Third Future Minerals Forum to kick off in January

Riyadh City

Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced that the third edition of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) will take place from Jan. 9-11, 2024, at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, Riyadh, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The ministry explained that the third edition will build on previous editions of FMF, exploring an array of topics and critical issues facing the global minerals industry, including sustainability practices and standards, developing green and future minerals value chains, disseminating cutting-edge digital technologies within the sector and attracting mineral sector investments to the region.

FMF is an essential platform for the super region, which stretches from Africa to West and Central Asia, bringing together industry leaders, investors, policymakers and experts to shape the future of the minerals sector collectively.

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Al-Khorayef, confirmed that the conference is deemed the most important in the world, thanks to the support of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Al-Khorayef pointed out that the third edition of FMF will touch on the supply and demand of the most used minerals that play a crucial role in the global shift towards clean energy. This will create a platform for discussion between metal-producing and consuming countries and ensure continuity of investment in the sector, starting with mines, manufacturing, refining and processing operations.

In its second edition, the conference focused on new technologies in the mining sector. In the third edition and the upcoming ones, FMF will continue to promote technology adoption to create a more efficient, safe and environmentally friendly mining sector.

FMF will work to develop a road map to transform in-depth discussions at its sessions into actions that can be applied on the ground, especially since the mining and minerals industry faces many challenges, most notably the rising demand for minerals in general, and for the minerals needed to achieve a shift towards renewable energy in particular, the minister further stated.

He stressed that the third edition will continue as a pioneering platform to lay more foundations for participation in industry-related decisions and procedures.

The main events of FMF will take place on Jan. 10-11, 2024, convening ministers, mining investment leaders, and several prominent figures and innovators from a cross-section of global minerals and mining companies.