SANTIAGO: Chile’s government says that Saudi Arabia’s mining minister will travel to the Latin American country in July and plans to meet with his counterpart in Santiago.

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said in March the kingdom was interested in sourcing lithium abroad, as it aims to enter the electric vehicle sector.

“He will indeed be in Chile (in July) and has asked for a meeting with the minister. But the date is not yet set,” the ministry said in an email.

A government source had told Reuters about the visit last Thursday, saying the two officials would discuss potential investments in lithium. Chile is the world’s second-largest producer of lithium.

 - Reuters