The Future of Mining in Saudi Arabia: AMAK's Role in Vision 2030
In this episode, we chat to Geoff Day, CEO of AMAK, a listed mining company registered and licensed by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They are one of the major mining companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, that produces copper, zinc, gold, and silver in distinct commercial quantities, Geoff is a geochemist with over 35 years of experience in the mining industry globally, in countries across Australia, PNG, Indonesia, the Americas, Africa, and Europe. His expertise encompasses all phases of mining, starting from exploration through all mining and processing operations and technical services to mine closure and rehabilitation. He also has extensive experience in mergers, acquisitions, and external affairs. Geoff gives us the history of AMAK, his journey, recent investments and developments, the company's corporate social responsibility, the outlook of the mining industry in Saudi Arabia, and the Kingdom’s Vision for 2030. KEY TAKEAWAYS The mining industry in Saudi Arabia is undergoing a transformation, supported by the government's Vision 2030 initiative, which aims for economic diversification and sustainable development. The regulatory environment is described as progressive, encouraging investment and exploration. AMAK is committed to sustainability, focusing on water management through dry stack tailings and recycling efforts. The company is also working on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by connecting to the National Grid and exploring hydrogen hybrid technologies. AMAK is leveraging digital transformation and technology, such as machine learning, to enhance exploration efficiency and asset management. This approach aims to optimise resource assessment and improve operational performance. The company emphasises local community support and economic impact, aiming to provide job opportunities for Saudi nationals and develop local industries. They are also focused on environmental stewardship and resource management to align with the Kingdom's sustainable development goals. BEST MOMENTS "I think from a sustainable development perspective, outside the ESG space, one of the initiatives I want to pursue next year is how we take a group of young engineers and young Saudi professionals and actually make the mining industry exciting." "The government has a very proactive and relatively streamlined tenement auction process. So every three months, the government puts up a number of tenements for auction, and there's a very clear process that says, this is how you apply." "We're currently looking to expand the current footprint for our dry stack tailings facility such that it will cover all of the production from the known resources we currently have." "There's a very high level of respect for different people from different nationalities. I run a business with 23 different nationalities, which is a first. And they're very tolerant warm, welcoming people." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail: rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast Web: http://www.mining-international.org GUEST SOCIALS Website: https://amak.com.sa/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amak-mining-company/ ir@amak.com.sa (investor relation email) Info@amak.com.sa (general email) ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.