Saudi Energy Consortium to Obtain USD 5.6 Billion for Financial Closure

Saudi ports handled 814,000 standard containers in August, including transshipment containers. (SPA)
Saudi ports handled 814,000 standard containers in August, including transshipment containers. (SPA)
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Saudi Energy Consortium to Obtain USD 5.6 Billion for Financial Closure

Saudi ports handled 814,000 standard containers in August, including transshipment containers. (SPA)
Saudi ports handled 814,000 standard containers in August, including transshipment containers. (SPA)

Information on Tuesday revealed that the consortium of companies owning the Jazan Gasification and Energy Production Complex in Jazan Economic City, which includes the oil giant Aramco, is in the process of obtaining financing worth about USD 5.6 billion for the financial closure.

Sources quoted by CNBC Arabia said that the total debt in financing the project amounted to about USD 7.2 billion, while the other part would be financed through a soft loan from the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, at a value of USD 1.6 billion.

According to the sources, around 22 local banks will compete to provide financing. Standard Chartered and French Capital would provide financial advisory services, while White & Case would present deliver advisory services to Aramco.

According to official data, the ownership structure of the project is distributed to the American company Air Products by about 46%, Aramco by about 20%, and ACWA Power by about 25%.

The new project – an integrated power plant with gasification and combined cycle technologies in Jazan – will have a production capacity of around 3800 megawatts of electricity, about 184,000 cubic meters of hydrogen per hour, and steam at about 585,000 tons per hour.

Meanwhile, Saudi ports handled 814,000 standard containers in August, including transshipment containers, registering an increase of 20.4 percent, by more than 457,000 standard containers. Cargo handled amounted to more than 25 million tons, while the number of ships witnessed an increase of 8.1 percent, by 1,119 ships.

According to the statistical index issued by the General Authority of Ports, Saudi Ports achieved a remarkable increase of 134.7% in the total number of passengers (by 70,000 passengers), in addition to a rise in the number of cars by 61.7 percent, representing an increase of 74,000 cars.



Saudi Arabia Advances to Become the ‘Silicon Valley’ of Mining

The Saudi Energy Minister reviews data on critical mineral extraction and processing in several countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Energy Minister reviews data on critical mineral extraction and processing in several countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Advances to Become the ‘Silicon Valley’ of Mining

The Saudi Energy Minister reviews data on critical mineral extraction and processing in several countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Energy Minister reviews data on critical mineral extraction and processing in several countries (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is pushing to become a global hub for critical minerals, aiming to be the “Silicon Valley” of mining. At the fourth Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, the kingdom announced new deals, investment plans, and discoveries.
Industry Minister Bandar Al-Khorayef said Saudi Arabia will explore mineral opportunities across 50,000 square kilometers this year. The Kingdom also unveiled a $100 billion mining investment plan, with $20 billion already in advanced stages or under construction.
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced that Aramco has identified “promising” lithium concentrations exceeding 400 parts per million in its operational areas, with lithium production in the kingdom expected to begin as early as 2027.
In line with this, Aramco revealed a joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) to explore and produce minerals critical to the energy transition, including extracting lithium from high-concentration deposits.
The latest edition of the Future Minerals Forum brought together over 20,000 participants from 170 countries and featured 250 speakers across more than 70 sessions.
Saudi ministers and international officials highlighted key challenges facing the mining sector, including the need for increased private sector investment, advanced technology, regulatory frameworks, supply chain issues, carbon emissions from production, and a shortage of skilled talent.
In early 2024, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources raised its estimate of the kingdom’s untapped mineral resources from $1.3 trillion to $2.5 trillion, driven by new discoveries.
At last year’s forum, the ministry launched a $182 million mineral exploration incentive program to reduce investment risks, support new commodities, promote green projects, and empower small-scale mining operators.
Additionally, Al-Khorayef launched the Mining Innovation Studio at the Future Mineral Forum 2025.
In his opening remarks, Al-Khorayef stated that the new studio was designed to attract global talent and accelerate cutting-edge technology, in alignment with Riyadh’s vision to become the “Silicon Valley of mining”.
He clarified that the Kingdom is promoting upcoming exploration opportunities across 5,000 square kilometers of mineralized belts in 2025 as it continues its steadfast growth in the mining sector.
Al-Khorayef further noted that the Saudi mining sector is the fastest growing globally, and affirmed that its mineral potential stands at an estimated $2.5 trillion.
He elaborated that the allocation of new exploration sites to tap mineral wealth is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to establish mining as the third pillar of the Kingdom’s industrial economy.