Saudi Arabia Discovers Uranium and Rare Earths in Jabal Said

Geological surveys and exploration activities in the Jabal Said area of Saudi Arabia have successfully uncovered significant deposits of uranium and heavy rare earth minerals, according to recent reports from Arab News. The findings mark a major development for the region's mining sector and highlight the expanding resource potential within Saudi Arabia, particularly in the Medina region.

Data detailed from the exploration efforts outline substantial mineral reserves within the area. Specifically, the findings include approximately 552,000 tonnes of heavy rare earth mineral elements, alongside 355,000 tonnes of light mineral elements. In addition to these rare earths, the surveys identified approximately 31,000 tonnes of uranium reserves located within the Jabal Said site.

The total economic value of these newly discovered mineral resources is estimated to be approximately 100 billion dollars. Further expanding the scope of the nation's mineral wealth, exploration has also highlighted two additional advanced mineral zones with a total capacity of 644 million tonnes, alongside approximately 110 million tonnes of ore.

This mineral discovery aligns with recent high-level diplomatic and industrial cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United States. Notably, on July 22, a civil nuclear assistance agreement was officially signed between US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.

To further develop these critical sectors, a formal joint partnership agreement has been established between the Saudi state mining company Ma'aden and the US-based enterprise MP Materials. The collaboration involves key stakeholders, including the US Department of Defense and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, cementing a strategic alliance for future mineral extraction and processing.