Yemen has reserves of lithium, a key mineral for battery and electric vehicle production, according to preliminary studies, Oil and Minerals Minister Saeed Al-Shammasi said.
The findings underscore the urgent need for investment and infrastructure development.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the Fourth International Ministerial Meeting at the International Mining Conference in Riyadh on Tuesday, Al-Shammasi revealed that the initial studies identified lithium reserves, a critical component in the production of batteries and solar panels.
“We also have copper reserves, but they require significant investment and infrastructure development,” he added.
Al-Shammasi said he met with Saudi Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar Alkhorayef to explore collaboration opportunities with investors in the Kingdom.
He also announced a forthcoming meeting with the head of Saudi Arabia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss joint projects.
“Recently, a Saudi-Yemeni Business Council was established to support the creation of joint ventures across various sectors,” he noted.
Al-Shammasi also highlighted the importance of the event, which builds on discussions from its previous edition. He said three new initiatives were introduced, focusing on investment in critical minerals essential for energy industries.
“These minerals will play a major role in the global energy landscape over the next 50 years, as countries seek to reduce dependence on oil,” Al-Shammasi said, emphasizing the need for investments and supportive legislation from resource-rich nations.
He stressed the importance of advanced technologies in modern mining and praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts, including the establishment of new research centers in the field.
Al-Shammasi further noted that the mining industry is helping reduce environmental pollution by leveraging alternative energy sources and critical minerals, aligning with the global shift away from traditional raw materials in sectors such as battery production and electric vehicles.
