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Saudi Arabia Awards Licenses for First Mineralised Belts in Historic Announcement

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has awarded licenses for its first mineralised belts, covering Jabal Sayid and Al-Hajjar sites. Noring Ajlan & Brothers Mining Company and a consortium of ARTAR, Gold and Minerals Ltd. and Jacaranda were selected for the Al-Hijjar areas. Vedanta and a consortium won exploration licenses for Jabal Sayid, with 17 companies pre-qualified for the round.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has officially announced the companies selected in its inaugural licensing round for mineralised belts, specifically in the Jabal Sayid and Al-Hajjar areas. Among the winning entities, Noring Ajlan & Brothers Mining Company received the award for the Southern Al-Hijjar site, while a consortium consisting of ARTAR, Gold and Minerals Ltd., and Jacaranda was granted the Northern Al-Hajar site.

In this competitive process, India’s Vedanta secured the initial exploration license designated for the Jabal Sayid belt. Meanwhile, a consortium formed by Ajlan & Brothers and China’s Zijin Mining Group Ltd. was awarded the second exploration license for the same belt. A total of seventeen companies, including various consortia, were pre-qualified to participate in this bidding round.

In July 2024, the Ministry extended invitations to both local and international companies for bidding on the first mineral belts, which cover an extensive area of 4,788 square kilometers. During the fourth edition of the Future Minerals Forum held in January, the Ministry had previously announced the availability of 50,000 square kilometers of mineralised belts rich in gold, copper, and zinc.

In conclusion, Saudi Arabia’s strategic move to award the first mineralised belts licenses marks a significant step in its mining sector. The selections of noteworthy companies, and the broadening of opportunities for local and international firms, underscore the Kingdom’s commitment to developing its mineral resources significantly. The established licenses are anticipated to foster economic growth and encourage further exploration within the country’s mineral wealth.

Original Source: africanminingmarket.com

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