Insight into the Prospects of Mining and sustainability in the Saudi Arabia

The mining industry is envisioned to be developed into the third pillar of the home economy by the Kingdom by the year 2030. Consequently, there will be more garbage generated as a result of mining and research in the coming decade. In January 2021, the executive branch released new regulations that incorporate several environmentally and socially responsible and safety-focused provisions.

Since mining requires the exploitation of finite resources, efficient tailings management is essential to the mining industry's transition to a sustainability paradigm. There are two ways to approach sustainability in the minerals business, with the latter building on the former. The first seeks to reduce negative social and environmental effects of the mining project by optimising resource use and management while it is in operation (i.e., sustainable functioning as defined by) (i.e., sustainable development as described by). Renewably-focused businesses have advanced these ideas further (e.g., the fashion industry). However, there is a dearth of research incorporating sustainability measures into techno-economic assessments of mining projects from the conceptualization to the commercialization stages.

Various tailings management systems to harness sustainability

In order to reduce the amount of scarce resources being used and the amount of pollution released into the environment, modern mines around the globe have implemented a wide range of tailings management techniques. Bricks, tiles, mortars, alkaline-activated materials, geopolymers, and even mine backfill have all been made with solid waste. Industrial-scale backfilling with tailings as a component in paste backfill for underground mines is one example of material recycling. By recycling them as mine backfill, tailings help keep mining refuse out of dumps and save money.

It is crucial to support a sustainable mining operation by optimising backfill systems from preparation to placement, taking into account capital, operating, and maintenance expenses. The expense of repairs and employee safety are both at risk when backfill systems are poorly designed. In order to provide ground support for the underground environment, mine backfilling entails filling voids formed during underground excavations. Typically, tailings are combined with a suitable binder, generally Portland cement, to create mine backfill (PC). Cement accounts for a significant portion of the overall price of backfill, sometimes more than half.

In order to reduce the amount of cement needed, natural pozzolans (such as pumice and volcano ash) and man-made pozzolans (such as fly ash and slags) are blended into cemented paste backfill (CPB). Both the CPB mixture formulation and the desired unconfined compressive strength depend on the mining technique (UCS). In contrast to cut-and-fill mining, which only needs UCS values of 1 MPa, room-and-pillar mining requires UCS values of 5-7 MPa. If CPB will be used in standalone uses, the necessary UCS can be less than 1 MPa. Binder and tailings chemical and physical characteristics have an effect on CPB toughness. After 56 days of curing, for instance, the UCS was higher (0.66 MPa) in natural pozzolan zeolite-replaced CPB than in standard samples prepared with PC (0.50 MPa). After 56 days of curing, the strength of CPB produced with 10, 25, 30, and 35% clay pozzolan was 287, 280, 268, and 268 kPa, respectively   Using a cement designed for general use could eventually degrade the UCS in tailings containing sulphide particles like pyrite (FeS2). As a result, pozzolans are used to reduce the effects of sulphate assault by replacing some of the cement in the backfill.

Emerging as a key location for mining business, Saudi Arabia

Honorable Chairman Vice Minister of Mining Affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid Al-Mudaifer recently spoke to an international audience of investors about why Saudi Arabia is becoming a significant mining destination.

Eng. Al-Mudaifer stated, "Saudi Arabia is very much open for business, and we have taken many transformational steps to make investing in mining more appealing than ever before. And because of the things that investors have informed us are most important, we've shifted our national perspective, learned more about the nuances of mining, and put more emphasis on stability and predictability. We can make a convincing case that Saudi Arabia is a mining country in the making thanks to the country's rich and varied geological footprint, its transformed mining sector, and its sharp focus on sustainability.”

He further pointed out few more sustainable developments in the sector and mentioned that the Miner Sustainability Principle was established to ensure the well-being of miners and the community as a whole. In an effort to strike a better balance between commercial value and environmental protection, the Kingdom has introduced the Mining Sector Sustainability Assurance Initiative. Applicants for mining licences in the country must demonstrate that they will use environmentally responsible methods under the country's new mining legislation. Finally, Vice Minister Al-Mudaifer unveiled the Future Minerals Summit (FMS), the first event to provide a "one-stop-shop" for investors, miners, and other industry stakeholders interested in the mining potential of the Middle East, Central Asia, and North and East Africa.

The Future Mineral Forum stoke a positive note

It was in this manner that the Future Minerals Forum, which wrapped up in Riyadh on January 12th, highlighted the Kingdom's mining sector ambitions and the way in which the mineral exploration industry is shaping up to become the third pillar of the country's economy.

Sustainability was a central topic of discussion among the ministers, industry experts, and think group representatives who gathered to discuss solutions to the sector's problems.

According to the media reports, Johns Hopkins University lecturer and senior associate fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies' Energy and Environmental Security, Paul Sullivan, said that the Forum's successful conclusion with unprecedented international participation would likely increase investments in the Kingdom's mining sector.

A larger amount of money could be invested in mining in Saudi Arabia if the Future Minerals Forum is successful. There is hope that it could also contribute to the development of more efficient judicial and regulatory systems in Saudi Arabia. Nonetheless, please be patient. "Saudi Arabia has a lot of mining promise," Sullivan said.

The second day of the Forum, on January 11, featured comments from Saudi Arabia's Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih about the country's growing attractiveness as a place for mining firms to set up shop.

All the pieces of the mining puzzle are in place in Saudi Arabia. We have the best laws in the world, the best location, the best financing, and the best energy solution," Al-Falih said.

Adding more sustainable punch

There are concerns about the environmental effect of mining, despite the fact that crucial minerals are required for a smooth transition to green energy.

Not only the mining industry, but all sectors in Saudi Arabia have room to improve their environmental and resource management practices. Sustainability and environmental legislation are crucial. Sullivan told Arab News that without such laws, both business and mining would be major contributors to environmental degradation through activities such as water, soil, and air pollution.

He went on to say, "Saudi Arabia could gain the most from a thriving mining sector that takes steps to reduce negative externalities such as pollution. It's great for Saudi Arabia's public image and the country's future prospects.

Sullivan went on to say that mining legislation and guidelines should be carried out in a manner that protects the public interest.

Some intricate equilibria must be taken into account. To enable sustainable, long-term, and effective mining to contribute to the future prosperity of Saudi Arabia, Sullivan argues that regulations and laws must take into account not only the needs of the companies but also those of the Saudi people, their leadership, and the Saudis of the future.

Mike Henry, CEO of Australia's BHP, said exploration of critical minerals should be accelerated to meet the energy transition goals over the next thirty years, because it is impossible to do so if the world continues to move at the current pace. This was discussed at the Forum, where industry leaders and top officials discussed the importance of sustainability.

To satisfy the demands of the energy transition, the world will require twice as much copper, four times as much nickel, twice as much steel, and twice as much iron ore over the next 30 years, he said.

Suliman Al-Mazroua, CEO of Saudi Arabia's National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, said in a separate panel discussion that the country is working on innovative practices to ensure sustainable operations in the mining sector while also trying to speed up mining operations as a catalyst for energy transition.