Saudi Arabia Discovers 110 Million Tons of Uranium-Containing Ore in Madinah

Saudi Arabia has discovered 110 million tons of ore containing uranium and rare earth elements in the Madinah region, according to Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman announced the discovery at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna.

He said exploration and geological studies at the Jabal Sayid project in the Madinah region identified ore with high concentrations of rare earth elements. The deposits also contain promising concentrations of uranium.

The minister described the project as one of the most significant rare earth mineral resource sites under development in the world.

Saudi Arabia Expands Mining Sector

The discovery comes as Saudi Arabia works to expand investment in its mining and energy sectors.

Prince Abdulaziz said the kingdom is developing domestic capabilities and pursuing international partnerships to strengthen its mineral resources.

Saudi Arabia is also exploring additional uranium resources through its sedimentary cover survey initiative. The government aims to identify more uranium ore from conventional sources.

The country has also expanded cooperation with the United States in the minerals sector. Saudi mining company Ma’aden and US-based MP Materials have partnered to develop rare earth processing and separation capabilities.

The development comes after Saudi Arabia and the United States reached agreements on a civilian nuclear program. The agreements are intended to support cooperation in nuclear energy and related technologies.

The uranium discovery could add to Saudi Arabia’s growing mineral resource base as the kingdom continues efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil.