NIDLP CEO says mineralized-zone licenses boost finds, open new horizons for downstream industries

NIDLP CEO Jamil bin Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, speaking to Argaam on the sidelines of the ceremony for awarding exploration licenses for the eighth round of mining tenders

National Industrial Development and Logistics Program’s (NIDLP) CEO Jamil bin Ahmed Al-Ghamdi said that granting exploration licenses in newly identified mineralized areas contributes to accelerating geological exploration, which enables the discovery of additional resources and opens wider opportunities for downstream industries and strategic minerals.
 

Speaking to Argaam on the sidelines of the ceremony for awarding exploration licenses for the eighth round of mining tenders, he added that these efforts enhance the Kingdom’s ability to build an integrated mining value chain — starting from exploration and ending with high-value products — which supports the sector’s competitiveness globally.
 

The CEO indicated that the success of international and local companies in obtaining exploration licenses in mineral belts represents a qualitative step that directly contributes to achieving NIDLP’s objectives under Saudi Vision 2030, through three main directions that integrate industrial, technological, and investment dimensions.
 

He noted that the entry of global companies with advanced technical expertise raises the quality of fieldwork and geological data, which aligns with NIDLP’s direction to develop an advanced business environment that relies on precise technologies in surveying and exploration, reinforcing the Kingdom’s attractiveness to industrial and mining investments and improving future decision-making within the sector.
 

“This step extends beyond exploration; it lays the foundation for a subsequent phase that includes investments in refining, processing, and advanced industries that depend on discovered minerals. As a result, it strengthens the Kingdom’s position in globally targeted minerals and supports the expansion of promising industries associated with them, increasing long-term economic value,” according to the CEO.
 

As regards the announcement of exploration projects with costs exceeding SAR 366 million over three years, Al-Ghamdi said that NIDLP views exploration investments from a strategic perspective that goes beyond spending figures, focusing instead on the impact of these investments and their ability to transform exploration activity into a sustainable national industrial strength.
 

The impact is assessed on two interconnected levels. The first is its effect on industrial supply chains, as successful exploration ensures the availability of confirmed raw materials that can serve as a foundation for developing multiple industrial stages, from refining and smelting to intermediate and final products. These outcomes support industrial expansion opportunities in sectors such as industrial equipment, advanced materials, energy products, and spare parts. In this way, exploration investments become a true leverage enabling the Kingdom to build a more diversified and deeper industrial ecosystem, said the CEO.
 

The second level is building national competencies and raising sector readiness. Exploration is by nature a specialized field that relies on diverse expertise including geologists, drilling and surveying teams, geological data analysts, engineers, and technicians — all requiring extensive fieldwork. This provides unique opportunities to develop rare national expertise and advanced technical skills. Over the long term, this enhances the readiness of the industrial and mining sectors and strengthens the Kingdom’s ability to manage value chains with skilled national talent, he added.
 

The CEO further stated that NIDLP plays a fundamental role in enhancing the readiness of infrastructure and logistical connectivity across all regions of the Kingdom, including remote areas experiencing significant expansion in exploration activities. This is carried out through strategic initiatives aimed at enabling economic activity and increasing investment attractiveness in these promising regions.
 

As part of this effort, the program launched several key initiatives, including strengthening the connectivity network between ports and industrial and mining cities, which is a core pillar for improving the efficiency of logistics services, he added.