Abdulaziz bin Salman: 110 million tons of rare earth minerals and uranium in Medina
SPA - Arabic - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, revealed that exploration works and geological studies in the Jabal Sayid project in the Madinah region have indicated estimated resources of approximately 110 million tons of ore containing high concentrations of rare earth elements, particularly heavy ones, along with promising indicators of uranium presence, positioning the project among the leading rare earth development projects globally.
Speaking during Saudi Arabia’s address at the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he noted that the world is witnessing rapid growth in energy demand driven by economic, technological, and industrial expansion, making the diversification of energy sources and enhancing their reliability and sustainability a fundamental necessity to support economic growth and supply security.
He affirmed that Saudi Arabia has, over decades, solidified its position as a reliable energy source and an active partner in stabilizing global markets, alongside implementing a comprehensive vision to enhance the sustainability of the energy sector and develop its various resources.
He stated that the National Nuclear Energy Program is executing an integrated program to explore uranium resources and evaluate the economic viability of utilizing them through several interconnected pathways, including extracting uranium associated with phosphoric acid produced by the phosphate fertilizer industry in northern Saudi Arabia, leveraging the country’s position as one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of phosphate fertilizers.
He added that the move to enhance Saudi-US cooperation during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the United States last November in the field of critical minerals and supply chains resulted in industrial partnerships to develop processing and separation capabilities for rare earth elements and co-produced uranium between Saudi company Ma’aden and US company MP Materials.
He emphasized that the Kingdom’s ambition extends beyond exporting raw materials or mineral concentrates; it aims to build an integrated industrial and economic value chain starting from exploration and mining, through processing, separation, and refining, up to the production of rare earth oxides and yellowcake, thereby achieving the highest added value for the national economy.
He said, “The Kingdom is not developing its peaceful nuclear program in isolation from the international community, nor through activities managed in secret bunkers or hidden facilities deep within mountains, but rather through trusted international partnerships that enhance confidence and support the nuclear non-proliferation regime.”
He added that the partnership with the United States represents a model for this approach, noting that cooperation between the two countries covers peaceful uses of nuclear energy, as well as critical minerals and supply chain security, recently culminating in the signing of a cooperation agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
He affirmed that, in accordance with its stated policies and transparent approach, the Kingdom has established voluntary nuclear safeguards arrangements within its cooperation with the United States, subject to the oversight of the IAEA in accordance with applicable regulations.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman renewed the Kingdom’s full support for the IAEA and its commitment to continuing constructive cooperation with member states to enhance international confidence and contribute to achieving a safer, more sustainable, and prosperous future for all.
He stated that Saudi Arabia is operating with full transparency and will continue to develop its programs in collaboration with its international partners and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to provide a model for the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the harnessing of mineral resources to serve development and humanity. He emphasized that energy security remains the foundation upon which economic growth and sustainable development are built.
