الخريف يعزز التعاون في التعدين والمعادن الحرجة مع وزير طاقة أمريكا

During his current official visit to the United States, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef held a bilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, where they discussed ways to enhance mining cooperation between the two countries and reviewed joint opportunities in the critical minerals sector.

During the meeting, the two ministers emphasized the importance of developing joint cooperation to support the supply chains of critical minerals, which are witnessing increasing global demand. This is within the framework of the cooperation memorandum signed in May 2025 between the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the U.S. Department of Energy, on the sidelines of the Saudi-American Investment Forum in Riyadh.

Al-Khorayef stressed the Kingdom's commitment to improving the investment environment for the mining sector, increasing its attractiveness, and simplifying its regulatory and legislative procedures, as part of its ongoing efforts to explore and exploit its mineral resources and maximize their benefits in the path of economic diversification.

For his part, the U.S. Secretary of Energy affirmed the prominent position and significant influence of the Kingdom in the global mining sector, pointing to the importance of enhancing international cooperation, developing partnerships between the public and private sectors, and accelerating the adoption of advanced mining technologies to promote sustainable growth in the mining and minerals sector.

During the meeting, both parties agreed on the importance of deepening the strategic partnership between the two sides in the mining sector, leveraging mutual opportunities in mineral processing, and enhancing joint efforts to support the resilience of global supply chains. This commitment underscores the Kingdom's position as a strategic partner in the global value chain for minerals.

The meeting highlighted the International Mining Conference that the Kingdom hosts annually, which serves as a global platform bringing together decision-makers, non-governmental organizations, major investors, mining technology companies, and research institutions to find innovative solutions to address the challenges of the mining and minerals sector and enhance its sustainability.

Additionally, during the meeting, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources invited the U.S. Secretary of Energy to participate in the fifth edition of the International Mining Conference, which will be held in Riyadh from January 13 to 15, 2026.

The meeting was attended by the CEO of the National Industrial Development Center, Engineer Saleh Al-Sulami, and a number of officials from both sides.