African Mining November 2021 | Page 9

GLOBAL NEWS •

Combined with a rich and diverse geological footprint , a transformed mining sector and a sharp focus on sustainability , we can make a compelling case that Saudi Arabia is a mining country in the making .”

The Vice-Minister highlighted three primary attractions for investors : Geology , Mining Ecosystem and Sustainability .

© FLSmidth

Design of facility 1 at the Sales de Jujuy Olaroz lithium facility in Argentina .

technologies for their new , world-class lithium extraction plant in Argentina . This order , in addition to the other lithium extraction orders announced earlier in 2021 , confirms FLSmidth ’ s leading position as the technology provider of choice for all types of lithium deposits globally . It ’ s also satisfying to partner with a company that shares FLSmidth ’ s commitment to environmentally sound lithium production – a great match for our MissionZero ambitions ,” says Mikko Keto , Mining President at FLSmidth .

The technology provided by FLSmidth includes a clarifier , Pneumapress filters , Shriver filter press , OTG polishing filters and a pyromet dryer package . The technology package also includes other important equipment such as the reactors , ion exchange , pneumatic transport system and a bagging package . Equipment delivery will begin shortly , and the contract will be complete by end of 2022 , with the final trainings .

“ FLSmidth is a world leader in environmentally sound lithium processing technologies . This aligns with Sales de Jujuy ’ s ambition to not only produce materials necessary for electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure , but to do so in an efficient and environmentally responsible manner through lowered emissions and significantly reduced water usage ,” says Fernando de la Calle , engineering project director on the customer side .

The FLSmidth state-of-the-art equipment will deliver high availability and high productivity and mean low energy consumption and resource-efficient operations . The new plant is expected to produce 25 000 tonnes per annum ( tpa ) of technicalgrade lithium carbonate .

In a recent interview during Mines and Money Online Connect , Khalid Al-Mudaifer , vice-minister of Mining Affairs for the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources , shared with a global audience of investors the reasons why Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a major mining destination .

“ Saudi Arabia is very much open for business , and we have taken many transformational steps to make investing in mining more attractive than ever before ,” said Eng . Al-Mudaifer . “ Plus , because of what investors have told us are critical success factors , we have a new national mind-set , deeper understanding of the complexities of mining and a greater focus on stability and predictability .

Geology :

• The Arabian Shield is estimated to contain USD1.3- trillion worth of potential mineral value , across numerous commodities , including gold , copper , phosphate , iron ore and rare earth minerals , many of which are critical to the technologies that will drive a sustainable future , and which are in high demand .

• The recently launched National Geological Database provides online access to 80 years ’ worth of national records of geological , geophysical , and geochemical information , including thousands of detailed reports on mining targets and prospects .

• Also recently announced , a major Regional Geological Survey Programme is now under way and will conduct geophysical and geochemical surveys and create detailed mapping of more than 700 000 square kilometres of the Arabian Shield .

• To meet the Paris Agreement goals on climate , the global supply of copper and rare earth minerals will need to increase by 40 %, while nickel and cobalt needs will go up by 60 % to 70 %, and lithium requirements will expand by 90 %. All of those pivotal elements feature in Saudi Arabia ’ s rich geology .

Mining Ecosystem :

• Saudi Vision 2030 singled out mining to grow to become the third pillar of the country ’ s industrial growth , which led to the development of a comprehensive Mining and Mining Industries Development Strategy , which has identified nearly 40 initiatives , most of which already are up and running .

• Saudi Arabia ’ s legal and regulatory framework for mining is being transformed and is now designed to ensure efficient and transparent licensing ; simplify doing business ; and support a dynamic , sustainable mining industry . ₀ Based on global best practice , a completely revised

Mining Investment Law was issued late last year , and now supports a clear and transparent process for license applications and approvals

₀ The new ‘ Ta-adin ’ web-based platform offers a single point of access for mining license applications , issuance , and information

₀ New incentives have been implemented , including the provision of co-funding up to 75 % of investment , a fiveyear royalty holiday for miners , discounts on royalties for local downstream production and support for Saudisation costs .

• The Kingdom already has attracted significant amounts of domestic and international investment in mining commodities like gold , phosphate , and aluminum .

• To a degree , this prior success has been based on a variety of ‘ baked in ’ advantages for prospective investors , such as : ₀ High domestic demand for mineral outputs ₀ Geographic placement in a key part of the world and proximity to end-user markets in major geographies , including MENA , Asia , and Europe

₀ Safety and security , as ranked by the World Economic Forum ’ s security index