Al Madina focuses on high capacity mining

Commenting on Ma'adens plans and motivations, Engr. Khalid bin Saleh Al Mudaifer said, "Ma'aden continues to invest in mineral exploration in Madina province as part of our strategy to develop mineral resources across the entire Kingdom."

"We believe that the long legacy of gold mining in the Madina region, coupled with the application of the latest available exploration technologies, provide a solid basis to continue to grow our gold operations and find new resources that can contribute to the economy and create employment opportunities in Al Madina," he added.

Together, Ma'aden and SABIC have made headlines with their partnership in the US$7.5 billion Waad Al-Shimal project, or "Northern Promise," an integral portion of a larger national plan to build downstream industries and boost the private sector in developing value-added products in the Kingdom.

Abduallah Sultan, the Director of the Center for Petroleum and Minerals at King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) will lay out the criteria for policy instruments that can effectively facilitate rapid transitions in the mining industry.

Three of the distinguished keynote speakers - Dr. Mohammed Faraj, Dr. Zohair A. Nawab, Abdullah Sultan - will sit on a panel entitled, "Ask a Saudi," an opportunity to garner information on the recent mining legislative framework and investment law first-hand, as well as updated regulations, the correct infrastructure for growth, and perspective on the role of private sector participation through Public and Private Partnerships.

In addition to the region's leading industry regulators and developers, representatives of the Ministry of Mining and Petroleum, and the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) will also be in attendance.