Saudi Arabia Advances Toward Becoming Global Hub for Metal Production

Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Saudi vice minister for mining affairs, tours the exhibition at the 25th Arab International Aluminum Conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Saudi vice minister for mining affairs, tours the exhibition at the 25th Arab International Aluminum Conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Advances Toward Becoming Global Hub for Metal Production

Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Saudi vice minister for mining affairs, tours the exhibition at the 25th Arab International Aluminum Conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Saudi vice minister for mining affairs, tours the exhibition at the 25th Arab International Aluminum Conference in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

With the aluminum sector emerging as a significant contributor to a more sustainable future through clean energy, the mining and metals industry is slated to become the third pillar of the Saudi industrial base, capitalizing on the Kingdom’s rich mineral deposits.

Saudi Arabia is a significant investor in the aluminum sector, allocating more than $12 billion to it, according to Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Saudi vice minister for mining affairs.

“We look forward to doubling this figure,” Al-Mudaifer told Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the 25th Arab International Aluminum Conference in Riyadh, represented by Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef and organized by “Maaden.”

Al-Mudaifer explained that the Kingdom aims to be one of the top 10 global producers of aluminum with a complete value chain.

He highlighted aluminum as a crucial modern metal with extensive future applications in renewable energy, electric vehicles, aerospace, and other industries due to its substantial usage.

“The mining and metals strategy was launched in 2018, and since then, the Kingdom has been actively implementing it,” affirmed Al-Mudaifer, noting that the country has achieved significantly positive results, with major projects already underway.

Al-Mudaifer emphasized that the metals and aluminum sector is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s national transformation plan, “Vision 2030,” serving as a fundamental base for economic transformation and diversification away from oil.

He reported over SAR120 billion ($32 billion) in investments in the metal industries in Saudi Arabia.



Saudi Arabia Allocates 3 Mining Complexes in Eastern and Madinah Regions

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources building in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources building in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Allocates 3 Mining Complexes in Eastern and Madinah Regions

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources building in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources building in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has designated three sites for mining complexes in the Eastern and Madinah regions. This initiative aims to enhance the investment environment in the mining sector, improve transparency, attract investors, and support mining licenses for building materials quarries.

According to ministry spokesperson Jarrah Al-Jarrah, developing these mining complexes will help regulate the building materials quarry sector, strengthen governance in mining, and increase investor confidence.

The initiative is expected to attract further investments while ensuring sustainability by focusing on environmental protection, occupational health and safety, and community participation in the sector’s growth under the Mining Investment Law.

Al-Jarrah added that the allocated sites include a location southeast of Madinah, covering 108.25 square kilometers, a site in the Eastern Province south of Khafji, spanning 4.84 square kilometers, and another site southwest of Khafji, covering 4.28 square kilometers.

By allocating these sites, the ministry aims to stimulate local economic development by creating job opportunities for residents in nearby areas, increasing local procurement, and fostering effective community engagement.

The initiative also emphasizes adherence to environmental regulations, ensuring responsible mining practices, and implementing rehabilitation and closure plans for mining sites.