RIYADH, Jan 12 (NNN-SPA) – The Future Minerals Forum, held yesterday in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, revealed mineral explorations showed at least 5,300 mineral locations in the kingdom.
Abdulaziz bin Labon, chairman of the Saudi Geologists Cooperative Association, said, the locations vary in minerals, metal and non-metal rocks, building materials, decorative rocks and gemstones.
On the sideline of the forum, the inaugural Ministerial Roundtable on Sustainable Future Minerals was held, with the participation of more than 32 ministers, government representatives and nine international organisations from around the world.
“We are convening the ministerial roundtable to further regional collaboration on the sustainable development of the mining and minerals industry,” said Khalid Al-Mudaifer, vice minister for mining affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.
We hope to establish a common framework and share best practices to ensure reliable and responsibly sourced supply of critical minerals for the global transition to net zero, he added.
Net zero refers to a balance between the amount greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere.
The participants discussed the emerging mining super-region that stretches from Africa to Central Asia, an area endowed with rich mineral resources that offer massive opportunities for exploration and development.
On the sideline of the forum, the eighth consultative meeting of the Arab Mineral Resources Ministers was also held.
The meeting discussed the progress of the establishment of a database for the production of mineral ores in the Arab countries, the establishment of a geological and mineral portal for Arab countries, and Arab capacity building in the mining sector.– NNN-SPA
