The meeting covered the career of Engineer Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs, focusing on significant developments in the Saudi mining sector within Vision 2030.
The importance of the mining sector in diversifying the national economy was discussed, along with current challenges and local and global investment opportunities.
The session touched on the role of youth, the impact of engineering education, and the value of technological and institutional transformation to achieve sector targets.
The dialogue included personal and professional experiences, success and failure stories from Al-Mudaifer's journey, as well as advice directed to the younger generation about capacity building and ambition.
Action Items
Soon – Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources: Complete the availability of remaining geological survey data for investors on the digital platform.
Soon – Ma’aden & King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST): Follow up on the development of new technology for lithium extraction and establish a pilot plant near oil production sites.
Ongoing – Ministry Strategy Team: Review and update the sector strategy to ensure the empowerment of young leaders and accelerate achievements.
Ongoing – Higher Education Programs: Continue developing mining engineering and metallurgical engineering programs in cooperation with Saudi universities.
Later – Public Investment Fund and Ma’aden Company: External investment in strategic minerals and securing the Kingdom’s future lithium needs.
Transformation in the Saudi Mining Sector and the Role of Engineer Khalid Al-Mudaifer
Al-Mudaifer reviewed his career path from academia to leadership positions and his role in building industrial institutions and transforming "Ma’aden" into a leading company.
He emphasized the importance of engineering in developing mental capabilities and analytical methodology, and the importance of combining sciences (engineering with finance and technology) for the success of executive leaders.
He described the strategy to transform the mining sector into the third pillar of the national economy and the impact of Vision 2030 in achieving significant growth in the sector’s economic contribution, from 64 billion SAR in 2015 to more than 120 billion SAR in 2024.
The sector witnessed growth in mining licenses and investments, in addition to increased spending on exploration activities and developing the geological digital base.
Foundations and Importance of the Mining Sector Locally and Globally
The Kingdom aims to be a global center for the production and industry of minerals to meet local, regional, and international demand, with the establishment of strong infrastructure and investor facilitation.
The importance of strategic minerals (such as lithium) has increased due to the energy transition and increased reliance on electric and renewable energy.
The Kingdom started where others ended by adopting best practices in environment and governance and encouraging foreign investment, thus significantly improving the sector’s reputation.
Challenges included attracting international and local talents, adopting modern technologies, and activating support programs for remote areas.
Investment Opportunities and Future Technologies in Mining
Required investments locally and globally are huge (6 trillion dollars by 2035) with the need to introduce new capital from investment funds and non-traditional companies.
The Kingdom launched initiatives to extract lithium from saline waste associated with oil and water desalination, with technical progress jointly between Ma’aden, KAUST, and Aramco.
"Manarat Al-Ma’aden" company was established for external investment in strategic minerals and to ensure supply chains for the Kingdom.
Professional Experiences and Learning Stories
Al-Mudaifer spoke about the importance of trust, respect, and honesty at work, reviewing his leadership stances and success experiences after setbacks, and lessons learned from Japanese experiences in discipline and precision.
He highlighted three main pieces of advice for his children and youth: humility and respect for all, ambition with perseverance, and initiative and courage in seizing opportunities.
Role of Youth, Education, and Future Challenges
The necessity of building youth capacities and exploiting Vision 2030 opportunities in new sectors.
He encourages technical education and integration between data sciences and mining engineering, noting the development of specialized university programs in modern technologies.
Challenges include the relative slowness in recognizing sector opportunities, difficulty working in remote sites, and the need for youth to enhance their technical and professional skills.
Future Outlook and Aspirations
Al-Mudaifer is optimistic about the Kingdom’s ability to achieve a similar or advanced global position, expecting the Kingdom to provide an economic and developmental model for Arab and Islamic countries within ten years.
He focuses on the importance of leaving a strategic legacy in the sector, empowering the new generation to surpass previous achievements quickly and more efficiently.
Decisions
Focus of the Ministry’s strategy on empowering the youth generation and enhancing the use of modern technologies — aiming to ensure the sustainability of transformation and the success of future initiatives.
Establishment of Manarat Al-Ma’aden company for external investment — to secure the Kingdom’s needs for strategic minerals and ensure industrial continuity.
Open Questions / Follow-Ups
How capable is the new technology for lithium extraction from saline waste of achieving high commercial economic feasibility in the Kingdom?
What is the actual annual investment volume required to achieve Vision 2030 goals in the mining sector?
How can the attraction of global and local talents to work in remote mining areas be accelerated?
Evaluation of the new university programs in metallurgical engineering after one year of implementation.