Ma’aden Resorts to International Expertise to Exploit Saudi Arabia’s Largest Discovered Resources

Saudi Arabia is implementing mining projects to exploit untapped wealth. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia is implementing mining projects to exploit untapped wealth. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Ma’aden Resorts to International Expertise to Exploit Saudi Arabia’s Largest Discovered Resources

Saudi Arabia is implementing mining projects to exploit untapped wealth. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia is implementing mining projects to exploit untapped wealth. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) is seeking to benefit from its relationships with its global partners, and to rely on the latest technologies, in order to raise the maximum capabilities and potential to work on the unexplored mineral resources project in Saudi Arabia, which is valued at $2.5 trillion, through an appropriate set of investments, sources have revealed.

In January, the Kingdom announced that it had raised its estimates of the value of untapped mineral resources, including phosphate, gold, minerals, and rare earths, to SAR9.4 trillion ($2.5 trillion), an increase from the previous estimation of SAR4.9 trillion ($1.3 trillion).

Ma’aden operates 17 mines and sites, employing more than 68,000 workers, and exports its products to more than 30 countries. It is also implementing a plan to increase the volume of its business within its 2040 strategy, in phosphate, aluminum, gold, and copper, in addition to exploring new minerals.

Mining has emerged as a vital sector for the Saudi economy, as it played a pivotal role in promoting growth and advancing development under Vision 2030. In this context, Ma’aden is working to consolidate the sector's position as the third pillar of the economy in the Kingdom.

The company is an important player in supporting the achievement of the goals of the country’s strategic roadmap, and has implemented one of the largest exploration programs in the world, investing in new technologies through its partnership with Barrick Gold and Ivanhoe Electric, to help unleash the enormous potential of mineral wealth in Saudi Arabia.

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef recently announced the discovery of new mining resources with an estimated value of $2.5 trillion. This came during the third edition of the International Mining Conference, which was held in Riyadh, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The minister pointed to new discoveries of rare earth elements and transition metals, in addition to huge increases in phosphate ore and other minerals, such as copper, zinc, gold, and others.

The Ma’aden Company recently revealed the discovery of significant gold resource potential extending along a 100km strike from the existing Mansourah Massarah gold mine. This is the first find from the company’s extensive exploration program, launched in 2022, aimed at building Ma’aden’s production pipeline.



Egypt Imposes Business Curfew to Counter Soaring Fuel Costs

Cairo was forced to raise fuel prices by more than 30 percent, after strikes on regional oil infrastructure and threats against the Strait of Hormuz (File Photo)
Cairo was forced to raise fuel prices by more than 30 percent, after strikes on regional oil infrastructure and threats against the Strait of Hormuz (File Photo)
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Egypt Imposes Business Curfew to Counter Soaring Fuel Costs

Cairo was forced to raise fuel prices by more than 30 percent, after strikes on regional oil infrastructure and threats against the Strait of Hormuz (File Photo)
Cairo was forced to raise fuel prices by more than 30 percent, after strikes on regional oil infrastructure and threats against the Strait of Hormuz (File Photo)

Egypt has ordered shops, restaurants and shopping malls to close from 9:00 pm from Saturday, hoping to curb energy bills that have more than doubled because of the Iran war.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced the curfew and said it would last for a month initially.

"Shops, shopping centers, restaurants and cafes will all close at 9:00 pm on weekdays," he said, adding that on Thursdays and Fridays at the weekend they will be allowed to stay open until 10:00 pm, Reuters reported.

The premier said that before the war, Egypt's monthly energy bill was $560 million. Today, for the same quantity, he said Egypt is paying $1.650 billion.

Madbouly said Cairo must work on the "worst-case scenario" in the face of a war whose outcome is unpredictable.

Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy said the new restrictions "will not affect tourists" or flagship destinations, a statement from his office said.

At the beginning of March, Cairo was forced to raise fuel prices by more than 30 percent, after strikes on regional oil infrastructure and threats against the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial shipping route now virtually paralysed by the war.

Around a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the waterway in peacetime.

The rerouting of shipping away from the Suez Canal is also depriving Cairo of a vital source of foreign currency.


Turkish Central Bank Forex Sales since Start of Iran War Close to $45 Billion

Turkish Central Bank (official website)
Turkish Central Bank (official website)
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Turkish Central Bank Forex Sales since Start of Iran War Close to $45 Billion

Turkish Central Bank (official website)
Turkish Central Bank (official website)

The Turkish Central Bank's balance sheet for this week will show foreign exchange sales amounting to near $20 billion, bringing the total forex sales since the beginning of the Iran war to nearly $45 billion, bankers said, Reuters reported.

According to calculations made by four bankers, based on preliminary data for the first part of the week and their estimates for the rest of the week, the central bank's balance sheet will show $18-21 billion in foreign exchange sales.

Bankers said that although $8 billion of the total $20 billion was made before a public holiday last week, this figure will be reflected in the balance sheet on the first day of this week.

The central bank sold $26 billion in foreign exchange in the first three weeks of the war, using its gold reserves as well, resulting in a $35 billion decrease in its net reserves.


Mawani Adds Marsa Ocean Shipping's RSX Service to Jeddah Islamic Port

Mawani Adds Marsa Ocean Shipping's RSX Service to Jeddah Islamic Port
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Mawani Adds Marsa Ocean Shipping's RSX Service to Jeddah Islamic Port

Mawani Adds Marsa Ocean Shipping's RSX Service to Jeddah Islamic Port

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced the addition of the RSX service by Marsa Ocean Shipping to Jeddah Islamic Port, featuring a capacity of up to 372 TEUs and connecting Jeddah with the regional ports of Aden, Hodeidah, and Djibouti, SPA reported.

This expansion aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, aiming to enhance the Kingdom’s operational efficiency and its ranking in global performance indicators.

As a primary gateway, Jeddah Islamic Port utilizes its 62 multipurpose berths and specialized terminals to support a total capacity of 130 million tons, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as a global logistics hub connecting three continents.