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Saudi Arabia's Mining Facilities Hit 360

Saudi Arabia aims to develop the mining sector (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia aims to develop the mining sector (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia's Mining Facilities Hit 360

Saudi Arabia aims to develop the mining sector (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia aims to develop the mining sector (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia 's mining complexes reached 360, according to data released by the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.

Under Vision 2030, mining is the third pillar of Saudi Arabia's economic development, after energy and petrochemicals.

The Makkah region took the lead with 72 facilities, Riyadh with 52, and Madinah with 52. The rest of the complexes are scattered across the Kingdom.

The report also said the Kingdom has 70 reserves sites for mining activities.

The Ministry said these mining complexes extract gold, copper, zinc, aluminum, magnesium, iron, silica, gypsum, limestone, clay, and various other industrial materials.

Limestone ore, bauxite, and phosphate ore are among the minerals widely used in the Kingdom's manufacturing industries.

The Ministry confirmed that the mining facilities have become a steady source of jobs for Saudis and offer different positions such as quarry official, mechanical technician, electrical technician, geologist, and mining engineer.

The Ministry aims to govern the mining sector, enhance its transparency, and increase investor confidence. It also seeks sustainability for the industry and motivates local communities to participate in the mining sector's growth paths following investments in the mining sector.

It aims to develop the areas adjacent to the mining projects by employing people from the nearby regions, increasing local purchases from the local market, and developing plans for effective communication in the area surrounding the project.

In January, the Ministry will launch Future Minerals Summit with the participation of more than 50 international speakers will attend the summit. The Ministry confirmed that ministers from over 25 Asian and African countries will also hold a meeting.

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Egypt Makes Progress in its Nuclear Energy Project

Construction work at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant. (Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority)
Construction work at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant. (Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority)
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Egypt Makes Progress in its Nuclear Energy Project

Construction work at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant. (Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority)
Construction work at the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant. (Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority)

Egypt has reported significant progress in the construction of the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant in the country’s northwest, a project being developed in cooperation with Russia. The government announced on Tuesday that more than 20% of the project has been completed.

Egypt and Russia signed a cooperation agreement on November 19, 2015, to establish the nuclear power station at a cost of $25 billion, funded through a Russian government loan. The final agreements for El-Dabaa were signed in December 2017.

The plant will consist of four nuclear reactors with a total generation capacity of 4,800 megawatts, each producing 1,200 megawatts. The first reactor is scheduled to begin operations in 2028, with the remaining units coming online gradually as part of Egypt’s energy mix.

In its quarterly performance report, the Egyptian government stated that the project aligns with efforts to expand the peaceful use of nuclear energy within the national power grid.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi emphasized in November the importance of executing energy projects efficiently and on schedule, calling them a pillar of Egypt’s development strategy. He underscored the need to adhere to the project timeline while ensuring the highest standards of execution and workforce training.

Also in November, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to the project, stating that El-Dabaa would enhance renewable energy capacity and stabilize the national power grid.

In early March, Russia’s Atomstroyexport announced that construction on the second reactor at El-Dabaa had progressed ahead of schedule. According to the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority, the second tier of the inner containment structure had been installed at the reactor building.

Egypt experienced widespread power outages last summer, which ended in late July after securing sufficient fuel supplies for its power plants.

The El-Dabaa project is part of Egypt’s strategy to diversify its energy sources, generate electricity to meet domestic demand, and reduce reliance on imported gas and other fuels.

On Tuesday, the government also announced an additional 200 megawatts of private-sector solar power capacity as part of its efforts to expand renewable energy. Officials said the move would support energy diversification and advance the country’s sustainable development strategy.