RIYADH: 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.
