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Al-Mudaifer: Saudi Arabia Attracting Foreign Investment to Explore Critical Minerals in the Region

Saudi Vice Minister for Mining Affairs Khalid Al-Mudaifer (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Vice Minister for Mining Affairs Khalid Al-Mudaifer (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Al-Mudaifer: Saudi Arabia Attracting Foreign Investment to Explore Critical Minerals in the Region

Saudi Vice Minister for Mining Affairs Khalid Al-Mudaifer (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Vice Minister for Mining Affairs Khalid Al-Mudaifer (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is exerting efforts to drive foreign investments into the Kingdom and surrounding region for the purpose of exploring strategic and vital minerals used in renewable energy, Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Saudi vice minister for mining affairs, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

According to Al-Mudaifer, international reports confirm the world’s need for these minerals by 400%, and the region represents 50% of future mineral resources.

Saudi Arabia is going through the best times to develop its wealth in a sustainable manner and use high technologies to take advantage of the future of mining, noted Al-Mudaifer.

The vice minister pointed to the geological significance of the Kingdom and its surrounding region, revealing that they offer opportunities worth SAR 120 billion ($32 billion). Both local and foreign investors are working on those prospects.

About 16,000 new mine licenses with investments estimated at SAR 100 million ($26.6 million) have been issued, affirmed Al-Mudaifer.

Al-Mudaifer’s statements were made at a presser held to announce the details of the 2nd Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh.

Under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the 2nd Future Minerals Forum is scheduled to be held between Jan. 10-12, 2023 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, with the participation of more than 200 speakers from across the world.

Al-Mudaifer revealed that there is a great demand from local and international consortia from the private sector for global auctions for exploration and development of mining in the Kingdom.

Moreover, Saudi Arabia has received many requests for exploration licenses from foreign companies.

This influx came because of the success of the first edition of Future Minerals Forum, asserted Al-Mudaifer.

Al-Mudaifer also stated that the Forum will talk about the emerging mining area, talk about how to build a sustainable mining industry, and learn about the enormous geological potential of targeted areas, pointing out that Saudi Arabia seeks to lead the contribution to the development of the distinguished mining zone extending between Africa and Central and Western Asia.

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Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc Scales Back Flights Due to Fuel Costs

People board a Royal Air Maroc flight on July 15, 2020 at Bordeaux airport. (AFP)
People board a Royal Air Maroc flight on July 15, 2020 at Bordeaux airport. (AFP)
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Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc Scales Back Flights Due to Fuel Costs

People board a Royal Air Maroc flight on July 15, 2020 at Bordeaux airport. (AFP)
People board a Royal Air Maroc flight on July 15, 2020 at Bordeaux airport. (AFP)

Morocco's state-owned carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) said on Saturday it would temporarily suspend several routes to African and European destinations due to ‌rising jet ‌fuel prices, ‌elevated ⁠operating costs and ⁠weak demand.

Tensions in the Middle East have driven a surge in global jet fuel ⁠prices, putting ‌pressure ‌on carriers and ‌prompting temporary route suspensions.

RAM ‌will pause flights linking Moroccan airports with several African cities ‌of Bangui, Brazzaville, Kinshasa, Douala, Yaounde and ⁠Libreville, ⁠the airline said in a statement.

It will also halt flights to the European destinations of Malaga, Barcelona, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille and Brussels.

Business

Official: Iraq Has Not Yet Applied for an IMF Loan

A floating oil export platform in Basra port, Iraq (Reuters)
A floating oil export platform in Basra port, Iraq (Reuters)
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Official: Iraq Has Not Yet Applied for an IMF Loan

A floating oil export platform in Basra port, Iraq (Reuters)
A floating oil export platform in Basra port, Iraq (Reuters)

Financial Advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister Mazhar Mohammed Saleh revealed on Saturday that Iraq has not yet submitted a formal request for a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Iraqi News Agency quoted Saleh as saying that “Iraq enjoys close relations with the IMF, and since 2003, it has concluded more than five agreements, three of which were Stand-by Arrangements, while the other agreements related to emergency support.”

Iran's war has caused significant disruptions in supply chains, especially in the energy sector, which was severely affected by a near-complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of global oil supplies pass.

Saleh stated that “the Fund has played a significant role in supporting the Iraqi economy over the past 23 years, especially since Iraq is now considered one of the biggest victims of the ongoing war in the region, considering that 85 percent of its oil exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This has caused significant harm and international concern, given that Iraq is an important and active member in the stability of the region and world markets.”

He pointed out that there is an Iraqi government team in contact with the IMF, meeting with Fund officials for consultations twice a year.

He clarified that “Iraq signed an agreement with the IMF on July 7, 2016, for a Stand-by Arrangement by providing a significant loan, which played a major role in supporting the general budget,” noting that “signing an agreement with the Fund is a matter decided by the Iraqi government, and this does not prevent consultations between the two parties, as Iraq is a member of this institution responsible for global stability.”

Saleh mentioned that “Iraq will borrow from the International Monetary Fund if the need arises, but there is no formal request from the government yet, and the current need is for the war in the region to stop, and for its geopolitical impacts on oil exports to cease.”

He added that “technical assistance from the IMF is available now, unlike the issue of financing, which requires the approval of a program by the Iraqi government.”

He explained that “the loan itself represents a reform program to support the budget or to achieve social goals, such as supporting the health and education sectors, because it is a human investment that must be subject to conditions defining expenditure directions and commitment to a reform program agreed upon by the Iraqi state and the IMF.”

Business

Mawani Adds CMA CGM’s Ocean Rise Express Service to Jeddah Port

Mawani Adds CMA CGM’s Ocean Rise Express Service to Jeddah Port
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Mawani Adds CMA CGM’s Ocean Rise Express Service to Jeddah Port

Mawani Adds CMA CGM’s Ocean Rise Express Service to Jeddah Port

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has added CMA CGM's Ocean Rise Express (OCR) shipping service to Jeddah Islamic Port, aiming to strengthen maritime connectivity between Saudi Arabia and global markets, support the smooth flow of supply chains, and increase the efficiency of port operations.

The OCR service will connect Jeddah to key international ports, including Kobe, Nagoya, and Yokohama in Japan; Xiamen, Yantian, and Nansha in China; Rotterdam in the Netherlands; Hamburg in Germany; and Southampton in the United Kingdom.

The route will utilize vessels with a capacity of up to 10,000 TEUs, according to SPA.

This addition aligns with Mawani’s efforts to enhance Jeddah Islamic Port’s global competitiveness and support international trade.

By enabling access to new markets, the initiative reinforces the Kingdom's position as a global logistics hub in line with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.