S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 Saudi Arabia is making progress in developing a more diversified and sustainable energy mix, which includes introducing nuclear energy. Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz spoke about the issue at the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna and reported that studies identified approximately 114 million tons of ore in the Madinah Region containing high concentrations of rare earth elements, particularly heavy rare earth elements, as well as promising concentrations of uranium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The materials were identified in exploration and geological studies at the Jabal Sayid project. \u201cThis places the project among the most significant rare earth resource sites currently under development globally,\u201d he said. In 2025, Saudi Arabia and the United States signed an agreement on cooperation in critical minerals and securing supply chains, and a partnership was established between Saudi Arabian mining company Ma\u2019aden and American company MP Materials to develop capabilities for the processing and separation of rare earth elements and the production of associated uranium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prince said the country is working to maximize the benefits derived from its natural resources and cited phosphate ores, gold, copper, zinc, silver, bauxite, magnesium, iron ore, lead, nickel, rare-earth minerals, transition metals, uranium, silica and gypsum among them. Abdulaziz also said that the National Atomic Energy Project is advancing a program to explore uranium resources and assess opportunities for their economic utilization through several interconnected tracks. He said the first involves recovering uranium associated with phosphoric acid produced in phosphate fertilizer operations in the north of the Kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said pilot work carried out in cooperation with French company Orano yielded promising economic indicators for uranium recovery from these operations. The minister also said Saudi Arabia continues its efforts, through the Sedimentary Cover Survey Initiative, to explore for additional uranium ores from conventional sources. He stated that the introduction of nuclear energy into the Saudi energy mix is taking place within a well-established regulatory framework and in accordance with the Kingdom’s international obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to serving as minister of two portfolios, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission in Saudi Arabia. Abdulaziz opened his statement at the conference in Vienna by reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s appreciation for the IAEA’s pivotal role in supporting member states, advancing the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and upholding the principles of nuclear safety, security and safeguards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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