Nigeria Seeks to Leverage on Saudi Arabia’s Technological Expertise in Solid Minerals Exploration
The governments of Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have agreed to collaborate on enhancing their mineral exploration capacities, drawing on Saudi Arabia’s advanced technological expertise and experience in the sector.
This decision emerged during discussions at the 2025 Future Minerals Forum, held from January 14 to 16 in Riyadh.
The event, themed “Year of Impact,” convened global leaders to explore critical minerals’ role in driving energy transitions and fostering economic diversification.
In a closed-door meeting on the forum’s sidelines, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Mining, Bandar Al-Khorayef, outlined joint initiatives aimed at achieving mutual economic benefits through strategic partnerships in mining and mineral processing.
The ministers emphasized the importance of leveraging their countries’ respective strengths to unlock opportunities along the solid minerals value chain.
Dr. Alake proposed that Nigeria’s gold refineries gain access to Saudi Arabia’s lucrative gold market through protective trade agreements, a move he said would create significant opportunities for market expansion and mutual economic growth.
Building on this, Saudi Arabia highlighted its substantial progress in modernizing its mining industry. Minister Al-Khorayef underscored the nation’s commitment to innovation, noting that advanced technologies for mineral exploration were showcased at the forum to attract international partnerships and demonstrate their practical applications.
In their discussions, both ministers stressed the need to align their efforts with global trends, particularly the surging demand for critical minerals essential to renewable energy technologies.