Saudi Arabia Reveals Discovery of 110 Million Tonnes of Uranium and Rare Earth Ore in Madinah
Saudi Arabia has discovered around 110 million tonnes of ore containing rare earth minerals and uranium in the Jabal Sayid area of the Madinah region. The announcement came just months after Riyadh and Washington strengthened their cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman disclosed the discovery at the 70th Regular Session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference.
“Exploration and geological studies at the Jabal Sayid project in Madinah have revealed resources estimated at around 110 million tonnes of ore with high concentrations of rare earth minerals, particularly heavy elements, accompanied by promising concentrations of uranium,” Prince Abdulaziz said, as quoted by Arab News on Monday.
The discovery has the potential to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to build its nuclear energy capacity whilst also mastering the strategic minerals supply chain.
The momentum comes after the United States and Saudi Arabia signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement on 22 July. The agreement was signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Prince Abdulaziz.
The US Department of Energy described the agreement as the legal foundation for a partnership worth billions of dollars that will span several decades. The agreement also opens up greater access for American companies to Saudi Arabia’s civil nuclear energy programme.
What makes the Jabal Sayid discovery strategic is not merely its volume, but the combination of two types of resources found in the area. In addition to high concentrations of rare earth minerals, exploration also found promising quantities of uranium.
Analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), citing data from the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the state mining company Maaden, estimates that Jabal Sayid holds around 31,000 tonnes of uranium resources.
The site is also estimated to contain around 552,000 tonnes of heavy rare earth minerals, such as dysprosium and terbium, as well as around 355,000 tonnes of light rare earth minerals, including neodymium and praseodymium.
The combination carries strategic significance. Uranium is a key raw material in the nuclear fuel cycle, whilst rare earth minerals are essential for a wide range of advanced technologies, from electric vehicles and electronics to wind turbines and defence systems.
CSIS assesses that the combination of resources places Saudi Arabia in a unique position to develop its own nuclear fuel cycle. Riyadh could also potentially supply some of these strategic materials to the United States.
Jabal Sayid is located approximately 350 kilometres north-east of Jeddah, in the Madinah region. The area is estimated to be among the most valuable rare earth mineral deposits in the world.
The partnership with the United States is set to reinforce these ambitions.