Discussion On The Trends & challenges In The Mineral Industry: Saudi Arabia

A forum is being held to discuss future trends and challenges in the minerals industry.At the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, the FMF will gather global mining leaders, including government officials and business executives.

The event will focus on creating responsible and resilient mineral and metal supply and value chains in Africa, Western Asia, and Central Asia. Over 200 speakers and 13,000 people will attend the forum.

According to the reports, the FMF is anticipated to tackle several topics, including sustainability, the future of mining, energy transition, the contribution of minerals to the development of societies, digital transformation, and integrated value chains.

The two-day event will host leaders from over 100 countries to discuss five crucial topics: "The World Today," "The Region," "Decarbonizing Supply Chains," "Digital and New Technology," and "Communities and the Future Workforce."

According to the report, the "World of Today" will highlight the region's mineral development in a global context, the implications of war in Europe for future mineral supply, and the economic, environmental, and political developments that will impact the region's industry.

"The Region" will open room for a more in-depth discussion about the future of critical mineral supply and demand, exploring mineral hot spots, and translating dialogue into actions.

Renewable energy, accountability, traceability, and electrification of the supply chain are set to be the core of "Decarbonizing Supply Chains."

The report added that "digital and new technology" will reimagine the mining sector through innovation and digitalization, while "communities and the future workforce" will explore diversity, skill development, and leadership in the industry.

On January 11,  the forum will host several fireside chats, live interviews, and panel discussions, beginning with the subtheme "Lands of Opportunity: Enabling Mineral Development across Africa, Western Asia, and Central Asia."

The second subtheme of the event is "reimaging minerals for the energy transition," followed by the third and longest subtheme, "Toward creating regional centres of excellence, Part 1."

Through panel discussions and three workshops, the FMF's main goals are to shape the future of mineral development and bring investment to the area.

According to the report, a considerable part of the forum will be the exhibition, which will host an exclusive lineup of international and regional mining, technology, engineering, equipment, and energy companies showcasing everything from exploration to the processing of essential minerals.

It added that the programme will also feature a new dedicated digital zone that will display the latest current and future technologies.

In addition, the programme will also feature an outdoor exhibition and a dedicated spot to display investment opportunities in the emerging mining regions of Africa, the West, and Central Asia.

"We have all it takes here at the forum to start the journey to build sustainable practises that go beyond compliance and which we can share with the region and the world," Khalid Al-Mudaifer, vice minister for mining affairs in Saudi Arabia, said in a statement.

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia will start the FMF in 2022. Its goal is to improve and open up mining opportunities from Africa to West and Central Asia.

The report concluded with FMF partners, including the Development Partner Institute, Clareo, the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, and the Payne Institute, to provide dynamic insights about the sector's development. 

 By Sumita Pawar