Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef held official talks on Sunday with US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright as part of his current visit to the Kingdom.
The talks at the ministry headquarters in Riyadh focused on strengthening the strategic relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US in the mining and minerals sector.
They explored ways to expand cooperation in the mining sector and emphasized the importance of minerals in the energy transition, advanced technology industries, and modern economies linked to clean energy, as well as their significance in the electric vehicle industry and its components.
The two sides discussed ways to boost economic cooperation and high-value investment opportunities in both countries and the enablers available to leverage these opportunities in support of deepening their longstanding partnership.
Alkhorayef invited the US energy secretary to attend the Future Minerals Forum, which will be held in Riyadh next year.
Wright later visited the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Dhahran. He was welcomed by Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, KFUPM President Muhammad Al-Saggaf, and senior university officials.
Wright was briefed on the university's academic and research specializations, as well as its efforts to foster innovation and develop human capital in the fields of energy, engineering, and science. He met with faculty members and students and learned about the university's initiatives to advance educational and research programs in line with the highest international standards.
He was introduced to KFUPM’s international collaboration and academic exchange programs, particularly those with leading US institutions, which are designed to foster knowledge sharing, encourage joint learning, and provide students with global exposure that enhances both their academic growth and career prospects.
This visit underscores KFUPM’s role as a leading academic and research institution in the energy sector and strengthens research and academic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the US.
