Under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources will organize the fourth edition of the International Mining Conference titled “Achieving Impact” from January 14 to 16, 2025, at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh.
Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef, stated that the King’s patronage reflects the leadership’s commitment to preserving the gains achieved in the previous three editions of the conference, closely monitored by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has shown great interest in continuing to advance the mining and mineral industries globally. The conference has gained prominence as a key meeting point for all stakeholders in the mining sector, from governments to mining companies, financial institutions, service companies, research centers, and universities.
The conference aims to provide a vital platform for discussing the challenges facing the mining and minerals sector and showcasing the promising opportunities available both regionally and internationally, with a focus on maximizing the economic and social benefits of this vital sector.
Alkhorayef noted that the ministerial meeting, held on the sidelines of the conference, will be attended by more than 100 countries and over 40 governmental and non-governmental international organizations. The meeting will follow up on the implementation of initiatives from previous ministerial meetings, including the development of a strategic framework for critical minerals in the major mining region extending from Africa to West and Central Asia, the production of green minerals in the region using modern technologies and renewable energy, and establishing a sustainability framework outlining regional aspirations for transparent mineral production and supply chains, and building centers of excellence in the major mining region to enable investment and human capacity building.
The fourth edition of the conference, held under the theme “Achieving Impact,” will discuss the potential of new mining areas in manufacturing sectors, attracting investments to mining and processing sectors, and exploring the contribution of the mineral sector to community development and securing clean energy as a source for advanced technology. The ministerial meeting will take place on the first day, January 14, 2025, while the main sessions will commence on the second and third days, featuring a number of ministers responsible for mining, global mining investment leaders, and heads of major mining companies from various countries.
Among the participants are the CEO of Newmont Mining, Tom Palmer, the world’s largest gold mining company; CEO of Teck, Jonathan Price, one of Canada’s leading mining companies; Chairman of Rio Tinto, Dominic Barton, one of the largest mining companies globally; CEO of Vale, Mark Cutifani, Brazil’s major basic minerals company; and the Co-Founder and CEO of Ivanhoe Mines, Robert Friedland, among other prominent figures.
The third edition of the conference, held in January 2024, saw the participation of over 14,000 attendees from investment leaders, heads of major mining companies, and technical experts from 133 countries, along with 100 sponsors and exhibitors. The conference sessions featured 250 speakers including ministers, ambassadors, and heads of delegations from participating countries.
The previous edition also saw the announcement of new estimates for the Kingdom’s untapped mineral potential, rising from 5 trillion riyals to 9.3 trillion riyals, an increase of 90%, along with the signing of 75 agreements and memorandums of understanding worth over 75 billion riyals in the mining and mineral industries sector, covering areas such as exploration, financing, technology, applying sustainability standards, and investing in supply chains.
This comprehensive summary reflects the importance of this upcoming event in shaping the future of the global mining industry, fostering international cooperation, and promoting sustainable and responsible mining practices.
