Saudi Gazette report

SAMARKAND — Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef met with US Secretary of the Interior and Chairman of the National Energy Dominance Council Doug Burgum at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh on Tuesday. They discussed opportunities to strengthen strategic partnerships between the Kingdom and the United States in the mining and minerals sector.

The ministers explored frameworks for joint action to activate the memorandum of cooperation signed between the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the US Department of Energy in the field of mining and mineral resources. This memorandum was signed on the sidelines of the Saudi-US Investment Forum held in Riyadh last May.

The meeting also discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in critical minerals and rare earth elements, emphasizing the importance of strengthening international cooperation to secure sustainable supply chains for minerals, thus supporting the global energy transition.

The meeting highlighted the International Mining Conference, which the Kingdom hosts annually, emphasizing its vital role as a global platform that brings together decision-makers, non-governmental organizations, major investors, mining technology companies, and research institutions to find innovative solutions that address the challenges of the mining and minerals sector and enhance its sustainability. Riyadh will host the fifth edition of the conference from January 13 to 15, 2026.