Saudi Arabia is planning to auction five new mining exploration licenses with copper, zinc, lead and iron deposits for local and international investors in 2023, the mining minister said on Sunday.
The ministry will launch the bidding process later for the licenses in Bir Umq, Jabal Idsas, Umm Hadid, Jabal Sahabiyah and Ar Ridaniyah, a statement from Bandar Al-Khorayef said.
"(The new licenses) aim to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the increase of the mining sector's contribution to the gross domestic product to $64 billion in 2030," Khorayef's statement said.