Arab News
Arab
News, Thu, Nov 06, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 15, 1447
Saudi Arabia, US set to deepen cooperation on mining, critical minerals
Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia and the US are set to deepen
cooperation in mining and critical minerals as senior officials met in Riyadh to
strengthen supply chains vital to the global energy transition.
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources
Bandar Alkhorayef held talks with US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who
also chairs the National Energy Dominance Council, to explore new avenues of
collaboration in the mining and minerals sector, the Saudi Press Agency
reported.
Saudi Arabia is positioning mining as a central
pillar of its Vision 2030 diversification strategy, aiming to unlock an
estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources. The Kingdom has been
deepening global partnerships to attract investment and technology into its
fast-growing mining sector.
“Discussions addressed ways to strengthen
cooperation in critical minerals and rare-earth elements, underscoring the need
to advance global collaboration to secure sustainable mineral supply chains and
support global energy transition,” the SPA report stated.
The meeting reviewed frameworks for cooperation
under the memorandum of cooperation signed in May between the Saudi Ministry of
Industry and Mineral Resources and the US Department of Energy.
The agreement, concluded on the sidelines of the
Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, aims to strengthen coordination in areas
such as mineral exploration, development of critical mineral value chains, and
knowledge exchange.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to
promoting responsible and sustainable mining practices, particularly in critical
minerals and rare earth elements essential for renewable energy technologies and
advanced manufacturing.
They also emphasized the importance of global
collaboration in building resilient supply chains to meet growing demand driven
by the energy transition.
The meeting also highlighted the Future Minerals
Forum, an annual global event hosted by Saudi Arabia that brings together
policymakers, investors, technology providers, and research institutions to
discuss opportunities and challenges in the mining and minerals industry.
The fifth edition of the forum will take place in
Riyadh from Jan. 13 to 15, 2026, positioning the Saudi capital as a global hub
for dialogue and partnership on sustainable mining and innovation in the sector.