RIYADH - Saudi Arabia's King Salman has relieved energy minister Khalid al-Falih of his post and appointed his son, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman, to replace him, the official SPA news agency reported. Who is the new Saudi Minister of Energy?
The appointment of Abdul Aziz bin Sulaiman marks the first time a member of the Saudi royal family has held the post of energy minister in the world's largest oil exporter, as the kingdom prepares to offer shares in Aramco.
Prior to his appointment as Minister of Energy, Abdulaziz bin Sulaiman held several positions:
- Abdul Aziz bin Salman has been the Minister of State for Energy Affairs in the Saudi Ministry of Energy since 2017.
- Deputy Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources since 2015.
- Assistant Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources for Petroleum Affairs between 2004 and 2015.
- He also served as Undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources for Petroleum Affairs between 1995 and 2004.
- Advisor to the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources between 1987 and 1995.
- Director of the Department of Economic and Industrial Studies at the Research Institute at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals between 1985 and 1987.
- Member of the High Committee for Hydrocarbons (Hydrocarbons).
- Member of the Board of Directors of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and Board of Directors of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy.
During his tenure at the Ministry of Energy, he served as a member of the Saudi negotiating team on the Kingdom's accession to the World Trade Organization.
- Abdul Aziz bin Salman, the new energy minister, is a long-time member of the Saudi delegation to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and attended his country's talks on reaching agreements to reduce oil production during the period from 2017 until the last meeting held in June.
- Headed the team formed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Saudi Aramco to prepare the oil strategy for the Kingdom; in addition to the team charged with updating the strategy.