‘Saudi Desalination’: Chinese Plants for Brine Mining Operational by 2026

One of the factories under Saudi Arabia’s Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) for brine water mining (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the factories under Saudi Arabia’s Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) for brine water mining (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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‘Saudi Desalination’: Chinese Plants for Brine Mining Operational by 2026

One of the factories under Saudi Arabia’s Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) for brine water mining (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the factories under Saudi Arabia’s Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) for brine water mining (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The General Manager of Commercial Services at the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), Eng. Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, announced the start of operations for two new Chinese plants at the Ras Al Khair station in eastern Saudi Arabia.

These plants will focus on utilizing brine water and extracting minerals, with operations beginning in the first quarter of 2026.

The SWCC has made agreements with local and international companies to develop investment opportunities in brine mining.

These agreements were disclosed during the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh last week.

As part of these agreements, two plants will be established in collaboration with Chinese partners in Ras Al Khair, targeting the extraction of essential minerals and salts from brine water, contributing to the circular economy outlined in “Vision 2030.”

Brine water, a byproduct of seawater desalination, contains high levels of salts and minerals like sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, bromine, and others.

This approach helps reduce waste from seawater desalination and lessens reliance on mineral imports.

Al-Ghamdi emphasized the importance of brine water due to its high salt content.

He highlighted that extracting minerals and essential elements from it for the market is cost-effective and energy-efficient, presenting significant economic opportunities given the abundance of these waters.

Al-Ghamdi shared that investments in brine mining are projected to reach about SAR 8 billion ($2.1 billion dollars) by 2030, boosting the local economy.

He pointed out upcoming efforts to extract essential minerals like magnesium, potassium, and high-purity sodium chloride. These minerals are vital for diverse industries in the Kingdom.

Al-Ghamdi confirmed that the new plants will help produce elements like sodium and bromine within the Kingdom, reducing the need for imports

The goal is to meet 25%- 40% of the local market demand by 2030.



Trump Touts ‘Done’ Deal with Beijing on Rare Earths, Chinese Students

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, right, shakes hands with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before their meeting to discuss China-US trade, in London, Monday, June 9, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, right, shakes hands with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before their meeting to discuss China-US trade, in London, Monday, June 9, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)
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Trump Touts ‘Done’ Deal with Beijing on Rare Earths, Chinese Students

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, right, shakes hands with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before their meeting to discuss China-US trade, in London, Monday, June 9, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, right, shakes hands with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before their meeting to discuss China-US trade, in London, Monday, June 9, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)

US President Donald Trump touted ties with China as "excellent" on Wednesday, saying the superpowers reached a deal after two days of talks aimed at preserving a truce in their damaging trade war.  

Trump said on his Truth Social platform that China would supply rare earth minerals and magnets -- vital elements for American industries -- while Washington would allow Chinese students to remain in US universities.  

His post came after top United States and Chinese negotiators announced a "framework" agreement late Tuesday following two days of marathon talks in London. 

"Our deal with China is done," Trump wrote, adding that the agreement was still "subject to final approval with President Xi (Jinping) and me." 

"President XI and I are going to work closely together to open up China to American Trade," he said in a second post. "This would be a great WIN for both countries!!!"  

US stock markets showed little enthusiasm despite Trump's statements, but major indexes edged higher in early trading.  

- 'Candid' talks -  

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that it was possible to rebalance economic relations with China if Beijing proved a "reliable partner in trade negotiations."  

"If China will course-correct by upholding its end of the initial trade agreement we outlined in Geneva, and I believe after our talks in London they will, then the rebalancing of the world's two largest economies is possible," Bessent told lawmakers at the House Ways and Means Committee.  

The two sides agreed to reduce their tit-for-tat, triple-digit tariffs during talks in Geneva last month, but cracks appeared in the detente after Trump accused China of violating the deal.  

Washington was concerned at slower supplies of rare earths after Beijing in early April began requiring domestic exporters to apply for a license -- widely seen as a response to US tariffs.  

Rare earths are used in everything from electric vehicles to hard drives, wind turbines and missiles.  

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in London on Tuesday that US measures imposed when rare earths "were not coming" would likely be relaxed once Beijing moved forward with more license approvals.  

On Truth Social, Trump said China will supply "full magnets, and any necessary rare earths" up front.  

Washington has infuriated Beijing by vowing to revoke the visas of Chinese students, a major source of revenue for US universities.  

On Wednesday, Trump said: "We will provide to China what was agreed to, including Chinese students using our colleges and universities."  

The US president also said that the United States applies 55 percent tariffs on Chinese goods -- a combination of his 30 percent additional levies this year and the rough average of pre-existing duties, a White House official said.  

He said Beijing charges 10 percent duties on US goods.  

The rates are the same as those that were previously agreed in the truce, which temporarily brought US tariffs down from 145 percent and those imposed by China from 125 percent.  

In a Chinese state media readout of the talks released Wednesday, Vice Premier He Lifeng, who headed Beijing's team in London, stressed the need for the two sides to strengthen cooperation in future dialogue.  

"As a next step, the two sides should... continuously enhance consensus, reduce misunderstandings and strengthen cooperation," He said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.  

Speaking to reporters in London, China International Trade Representative Li Chenggang earlier said: "Our communication has been very professional, rational, in-depth and candid."