Abdulaziz bin Salman: Discovery of 114 million tons of rare earth minerals in Medina; promising indicators for uranium presence

His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Energy, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE), and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority, delivered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s address at the Seventieth General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held in Vienna, Austria. The conference brought together member states and various international organizations and entities concerned with the nuclear energy sector.

At the outset of his speech, Prince Abdulaziz conveyed the Kingdom’s pride in the pivotal role played by the IAEA in supporting member states and promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, while reinforcing the principles of safety, security, and safeguards. He extended his congratulations to the IAEA Director General on assuming the presidency of the Seventieth General Conference session.

He stated, “Our meeting today takes place at a time when the world is witnessing rapid growth in energy demand, driven by economic, technological, and industrial expansion. Amidst these transformations, diversifying energy sources, enhancing their reliability, and ensuring their sustainability have become necessities to support economic growth and supply security.”

He emphasized that over the decades, the Kingdom has solidified its position as a reliable energy source and an active partner in stabilizing global markets. In parallel with this role, the Kingdom is building a national energy mix that is more diverse and sustainable, based on comprehensive economic and developmental considerations. This includes integrating nuclear energy into the mix, within a robust regulatory framework that aligns with its international commitments.

Prince Abdulaziz outlined the Kingdom’s assets and resources, highlighting its vast and diverse natural wealth, which is being utilized to achieve development and prosperity, benefiting both people and the economy. These resources include phosphate rock, gold, copper, zinc, silver, bauxite, magnesium, iron ore, lead, nickel, rare earth elements, transition metals, uranium, silica, and gypsum.

He clarified that the Kingdom is working to maximize the utilization of these resources, transforming them from natural resources into sustainable economic and industrial value, thereby enhancing the resilience of global supply chains for critical and strategic minerals.

He revealed that the National Nuclear Energy Project is advancing a program to explore uranium resources and assess the economic viability of their exploitation through several interconnected pathways. One such pathway involves extracting uranium co-produced with phosphoric acid during the production of phosphate fertilizers in northern Saudi Arabia, taking into account the Kingdom’s status as the world’s second-largest exporter of phosphate fertilizers.

Pilot projects conducted in collaboration with the French company Orano showed promising economic indicators for extracting uranium from these processes. This cooperation was culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding during the Crown Prince’s visit to France last August.

He noted that exploration and geological studies at the Jabal Sayid project in the Medina region have identified estimated reserves of approximately 114 million tons of ore containing high concentrations of rare earth elements, particularly heavy ones, accompanied by promising uranium concentrations. This places the project among the most significant rare earth resource sites under development globally. This momentum was further reinforced during the Crown Prince’s visit to the United States in November 2025, where the two countries signed a framework for cooperation in critical minerals and supply chain security, followed by a partnership between Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) and the US company MP Materials to develop capabilities for processing and separating rare earth elements and producing co-produced uranium.

He pointed out that the Kingdom continues its efforts through the Sedimentary Cover Mapping Initiative to explore additional uranium sources from traditional deposits. He added that these resources gain special significance when viewed within a broader system of the Kingdom’s assets, which combine promising mineral resources, competitive energy supplies, advanced infrastructure, growing industrial and investment capacities, a strategic location, and effective international partnerships.

He stressed that the Kingdom’s ambitions extend beyond producing raw materials or exporting concentrates; they encompass building an integrated economic and industrial value chain for all minerals, starting from exploration and mining, passing through processing, separation, and refining, producing rare earth element oxides, extracting and purifying co-produced uranium, up to the production of yellowcake, and developing the associated value chain according to economic feasibility, highest transparency standards, and within the framework of the Kingdom’s international commitments.

He observed that endowments vary from country to country, and viewing countries’ options through a single model does not fully reflect the differences in their resources, capabilities, economic conditions, and national priorities. This issue gains particular importance when comparing with other countries in the region that lack the same resource base or do not possess the same level of related capabilities and industries. He noted that the integration of endowments in the Kingdom provides a clear economic and industrial foundation for transitioning from mere resource extraction to building integrated value chains that maximize local value.

He explained that developing this chain is not a goal separate from the Kingdom’s economic and industrial reality, but rather a direct extension of it, supported by available resources, developing capabilities, investments, and partnerships that are turning into tangible projects on the ground. This reflects the Kingdom’s approach to maximizing the benefit of its national endowments and transforming them into sustainable economic and industrial value. This distinguishes the Kingdom’s model from other models in the region, where resource bases, economic options, and national arrangements differ from one country to another.

He emphasized that the Kingdom has the right to exercise its options in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which proceed alongside the highest levels of responsibility and transparency. This is consistent with the inherent right of States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to develop and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination.

Transparency and Openness

He indicated that the Kingdom follows a clear approach based on transparency, openness, and international cooperation. It does not seek to develop its peaceful nuclear program in isolation from the international community, nor through activities managed in secrecy or hidden facilities deep in mountains. Instead, it works to develop its capabilities through reliable international partnerships that enhance trust and support the nuclear non-proliferation system.

He stated, “The partnership with the friendly United States of America exemplifies this approach. Cooperation between the two countries extends from critical minerals and supply chain security to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Last July, this path was crowned with the signing of an agreement for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, known as the (123) Agreement. We affirm that, within the framework of its current commitments under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, in accordance with its announced national policies, and its transparency-based approach, the Kingdom has established voluntary special safeguards arrangements with the United States, reflecting its belief in the importance of strengthening this partnership and consolidating its reliability. The implementation of these special safeguards arrangements will be subject to the supervision of the IAEA in accordance with its statute and the role of the IAEA Board of Governors.”

In conclusion, he affirmed that the Kingdom continues to strengthen its national system and regulatory frameworks for nuclear energy and its applications, believing that building trust relies on national institutions, robust regulatory frameworks, and national competencies. It will continue to enhance its readiness for nuclear and radiological emergency response, consolidate a culture of nuclear safety and security, and strengthen technical cooperation with the Agency and international partners. He renewed the Kingdom’s full support for the IAEA and its commitment to continuing constructive cooperation with it and with member states, thereby enhancing international trust and contributing to achieving a safer, more sustainable, and prosperous future.