A Conversation with His Excellency Ali al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The CSIS Energy and National Security Program hosted His Excellency Ali al-Naimi to hear his views on the dynamic changes taking place on the global energy scene. Now in his 18th year as Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Petroleum & Mineral Resources, Minister Naimi possesses a unique and long-term global perspective on energy markets, the impacts of technology, and the opportunities and challenges that lie before us. In his remarks, the Minister examined the relationship between oil and economic growth, the impact of recently developed unconventional resources in the United States, and the transformation underway in Saudi Arabia. Frank Verrastro, Senior Vice President and the James R. Schlensinger Chair for Energy & Geopolitics at CSIS, moderated.
His Excellency Minister Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi has been Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources for the kingdom of Saudi Arabia since August 1995. Prior to being appointed Minister, he had served as chief executive officer of Saudi Aramco for seven years. Minister Naimi has spent his career in energy exploration and production, beginning in 1947 as a foreman with Saudi Aramco, and progressing through the ranks as an assistant superintendent, superintendent and manager, before moving into the Exploration Department in 1953. He was appointed vice president of Aramco in 1975, senior vice president in 1978 and was elected as an Aramco director in 1980. He became executive vice president of Operations for Aramco in 1982, and then company president in 1984. He was named as the chief executive officer for Aramco in 1988.
