Saudi Arabia leads sustainable mining transformation, says Almudaifer

Khalid Almudaifer, Vice Minister for Mining Affairs

Saudi Arabia is witnessing a qualitative transformation in the mining sector, thanks to major investments and ambitious programs aimed at achieving sustainable development and strengthening the national economy, said Vice-Minister for Mining Affairs at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid Almudaifer.

In an interview with Argaam on the sidelines of the press conference on the fourth International Mining Conference, the Vice Minister said that the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), which is one of the largest initiatives in the world, with billions of investments, covers about 600,000 square kilometers of the Arabian Shield region.

He added that the SGS program has accomplished a large percentage of its goals, as 62% of the geological data acquired through the digital geological database was released a month ago, making it one of the most advanced platforms in the world.

He pointed out that this program uses modern technologies, including advanced aircraft and geochemical surveys, to produce geological maps that meet the needs of investors.

Regarding the growth in demand for metals, Almudaifer confirmed that the Kingdom is growing significantly, being the world’s fourth largest importer of metals since 2018, with major projects, such as NEOM, Red Sea, Qiddiya, and Riyadh Expo, whose value is estimated at more than SAR 8 trillion.

He stated that a number of vital projects support the mining and industrial sector in the Kingdom, including the steel sector, where projects were launched to manufacture steel plates used in ship-building, as well as the oil and automobile industries.

Investments in the aluminum sector are estimated at SAR 40 billion to create advanced vehicle industry and electrical industries.

Almudaifer indicated that the copper sector will witness billion-riyal projects to supply the metals necessary to develop local production and meet industrial demand.

The Vice Minister added that the Kingdom is focusing on rare metals such as lithium, graphite and nickel, which are key to the electric vehicle and renewable energy industries.

He stressed that the efforts exerted in the mining sector come within the framework of achieving Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify sources of income and build a strong and sustainable economy.

He pointed out that the ministry is working to lure local and international investors to develop and transform the mining sector into a major driver of the national economy, while ensuring the use of advanced technologies to maintain the sustainability of resources.

Meanwhile, Almudaifer emphasized that the Kingdom is moving steadily towards achieving a leading position in the global mining sector, benefiting from its natural resources and ambitious strategies.