Istanbul: Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Eng. Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer participated in a high-level ministerial session titled ‘Mining in Energy Transition: Ministerial Dialogue on Resource Security’ at the Istanbul Natural Resources Summit (INRES 2025). The session was chaired by Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, with the participation of ministers and deputy ministers from Libya, Somalia, Niger, and Hungary.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Eng. Al-Mudaifer emphasized that Saudi Vision 2030 serves as a comprehensive roadmap for economic transformation, positioning the mining sector as a key third pillar of national industry. This has strengthened the Kingdom’s role as a global hub for mining investments and attracted major international companies to this vital sector.
The vice minister noted that under Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom has made significant progress in developing its mining sector and exploring mineral resources. He indicated that the estimated value of mineral wealth rose from SAR 5 trillion to SAR 9.4 trillion, while exploration activities expanded markedly, with the number of exploration companies increasing from six in 2020 to 133 in 2023. Total exploration spending reached SAR 1.33 billion, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to boosting investment in mineral resource exploration.
He highlighted key achievements in the Saudi mining sector, including the update of legislative frameworks, the launch of leading national initiatives such as the National Minerals Program, the expansion of exploration activities, regulatory improvements, and support for private sector participation. These efforts aim to attract high-quality investments and underscore the Kingdom’s commitment to international partnerships in developing this strategic sector.
On the sidelines of INRES 2025, Eng. Al-Mudaifer held a meeting with Turkish Minister Alparslan Bayraktar to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Trkiye in the mining sector, including increased investments and the exchange of technical expertise to strengthen integration across mining value chains.
Additionally, Eng. Al-Mudaifer met with President of the Turkish Miners Association Mehmet Yilmaz to explore opportunities for Turkish companies to participate in the Future Minerals Forum, hosted by Saudi Arabia. The two sides also reviewed investment prospects in the Saudi mining sector in light of the Kingdom’s support programs and incentives for local and international investors.
Saudi Arabia is set to host the fifth edition of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh in January 2026. The forum is recognized as one of the leading global platforms for the mining and minerals sector and aims to promote international collaboration, highlight promising investment opportunities, exchange expertise, and advance supply chain development and sustainability.
