A large mineral resource reported in western Saudi Arabia has added another piece to the kingdom’s expanding plans for critical minerals and nuclear energy. Exploration at Jabal Sayid in the Madinah region has identified an estimated 110 million tonnes of ore containing high concentrations of rare earth elements, particularly heavier varieties, as well as uranium, according to Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, according to the X post (Formerly Twitter). The announcement was made at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s General Conference in Vienna on September 14. The figure refers to the estimated ore resource, rather than 110 million tonnes of rare earths or uranium themselves.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
What lies inside Saudi Arabia’s 110 million tonne mineral resource
The reported discovery comes from exploration and geological work carried out around Jabal Sayid, an area already attracting attention for its mineral potential. The newly disclosed estimate covers about 110 million tonnes of ore in which rare earth elements occur alongside uranium.
The rare earth component is particularly significant because the deposit contains heavier rare earth elements. These include minerals such as dysprosium and terbium, which are used in specialised technologies and high-performance magnets. Lighter elements including neodymium and praseodymium are also associated with the wider resource.
The ministry’s announcement did not mean that all 110 million tonnes could be extracted as commercially usable rare earth material. The number describes the estimated quantity of ore identified through exploration, while the concentrations of the individual elements determine what could ultimately be recovered.
