Saudi Arabia’s Waad Mining City in the North was endorsed by the Cabinet last week and will receive SR26 billion in preliminary investments including the setting up of a SR21 billion phosphate company, Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Ali Al-Naimi said recently. The potential of the country’s mining sector is examined in more detail in International Mining’s April issue. Khaled Al-Mudaifer, CEO of Saudi Arabian Mining Co (Maaden), said the availability of large quantities of phosphate near gas wells in the north and the presence of a railway system would boost phosphate industry as well as downstream industries. As noted in the IM article, Maaden has a proven track record on large projects including a huge phosphate complex that began operations last year. “We are also working on a SR40 billion aluminium smelter,” he added.The city is to be built northeast of Turaif. Al-Naimi said the city would add SR15 billion to Saudi GDP and will have a railway and an electricity supply system. Three wharfs will be constructed in Ras Al-Khair Port as part of the project.

Prince Faisal bin Turki, an adviser at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, said the project “will contribute to the establishment of a sustainable industry that would accelerate the region’s economic growth.”

Al-Mudaifer discussed plans to establish seven large plants in the city with an annual capacity of 16 Mt to produce phosphate concentrates, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, calcium phosphate, concentrated phosphoric acid and sodium tri poly phosphate.

There is to be a large Saudi delegation (approximately 40 companies) attending MINExpo in Las Vegas this year. The U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council will be hosting a Seminar on Mining Opportunitiesin Saudi Arabia during MINExpo and will be hosting a reception for at the show.  Speakers will include the U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and the CEO of Ma’aden.  Contact [email protected]