Riyadh: Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said the global mining sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation, with rising demand no longer driven solely by energy transition and traditional critical minerals, but increasingly by the technological revolution.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Minister Alkhorayef noted that data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies cannot operate without extensive mineral infrastructure, positioning Saudi Arabia to lead global supply chains.
The minister made the remarks during a ministerial panel titled 'Dawn of a Global Cause: the Role of Governments in Driving Mineral Supply,' held as part of the fifth annual Future Minerals Forum.
Minister Alkhorayef outlined what he described as Saudi Arabia's competitive 'rare trinity': abundant geological resources, supported by major state investments in high-quality surveying data, and competitively priced energy vital for intensive processing.
He also pointed to the Kingdom's strategic geographic location, which links global markets and reduces logistics costs - estimated at up to 30% of mineral value - positioning Saudi Arabia as a hub not only for extraction, but also for processing and manufacturing.