Overview
Data on the potential market size are extremely difficult to estimate. The mining industry in Saudi Arabia is at the beginning of a large expansion, as the country begins to exploit large mineral resources identified some time ago. The country is simultaneously implementing several large-scale transportation infrastructure projects, requiring much of the same equipment as the mining projects.
In recent years, the Saudi government has recognized the potential of the mining and minerals sector to become the third pillar of the Kingdom’s economy, behind oil and petrochemicals. Geological surveys carried out over the past 50 years have proven that the Kingdom has large mineral deposits that are commercially viable for exploitation. The government is committed to fully realizing the potential of the mining sector, and is seeking to attract investors, partners and suppliers. Recent reforms in mining regulations have enhanced the attractiveness of sector.
Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden), a 100 percent state owned entity, dominates the mining sector. Ma’aden is in the process of creating individual companies for its gold, industrial minerals, phosphates and aluminum interests. The Saudi minerals giant is also establishing an infrastructure development company to build and operate the prestigious Ras Azzour project.
Best Prospects/Services
The Kingdom has the largest known deposits of mineral resources in the Middle East. The main minerals are gold, phosphates and bauxite. Saudi Arabia is home to some of the largest phosphate deposits in the world. Reserves stand at 3.1 billion tons, with 1.6 billion tons of indicated phosphate resource and 1.5 billion tons of inferred resource.
By 2011, in addition to the Ras Azzour development, there will be new bauxite production from Al-Zubeira, phosphates from Al-Jalamid and the Jubail Aluminum Smelter.
Ma’aden recently has signed a US$ 240 million deal with a consortium to build three sulfuric acid plants in Ras Azzour. The plants will have a daily capacity of 13,500 tons. The project, which will be ready within three years, is described as the largest in the world. The new sulfuric acid plants are part of a US$ 2.6 billion di-ammonium phosphate complex.
Opportunities
In the next four years, some $11.9 billion will be invested in mining projects in the Kingdom, much of it by the Ma’aden. While an aluminum smelter and some fertilizer plants will add value, perhaps the biggest value will come with the new freight rail network to carry minerals to the coast for export.
The government recently approved the construction of a US$3.76 billion aluminum smelter plant, a Ma’aden project with an annual capacity of 623,000 tons. The plant will be located in the Ras Azzour Industrial Zone in eastern Saudi Arabia. Ma’aden believes the Ras Azzour mineral industrial complex will attract more than US$ 8 billion in investment for the phosphate and aluminum projects, a power plant and a port on the Arabian Gulf.
Ma’aden plans to develop four gold projects and a complete mining system at the Ras Azzour industrial area linked by railways with the company’s industrial utilities and a port for exporting phosphate and aluminum.
Ma’aden has also finalized plans to set up phosphoric acid plants, which will be constructed at Ras Azzour for the Ma’aden phosphate project within 30 months. The plant will produce 4,380 tons of phosphate a day, making it the largest facility of its kind in the world.
For more information please contact:
Maher Siblini at maher.siblini@mail.doc.gov in Riyadh
Mohammed Shujauddin at ishtiaq.hussain@mail.doc.gov in Dhahran
Yousef Daqqaq at yousef.daqqaq@mail.doc.gov in Jeddah