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PIF and Ma’aden Partner for Strategic Mineral Investments

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**Titular:** Ma’aden Forges Global Mining Alliances

**Intro:** Saudi Arabia’s Ma’aden, backed by PIF, has launched strategic partnerships with Ivanhoe Electric and Barrick Gold to boost mineral exploration and secure critical supply chains for energy transition. The deals include a $126M stake in Ivanhoe, cutting-edge tech integration, and JVs targeting copper, gold, and nickel in Saudi Arabia.

**Factbox (50w):**
– **$126M Investment:** Ma’aden secures 9.9% stake in Ivanhoe Electric.
– **Joint Ventures:** 50:50 JVs with Ivanhoe (48,500 km² exploration) and Barrick (Jabal Sayid South/Umm Ad Damar licenses).
– **Tech Partnerships:** 20+ agreements with Nokia, Shell, others to enhance sustainability, exploration.
– **Goal:** Expand Saudi mineral reserves, global mining influence.

**Saudi Arabia’s Mining Sector Soars: Ma’aden, PIF, and Global Partners Forge Path for Strategic Minerals Dominance**

The **Future Minerals Forum 2023** marked a historic turning point for Saudi Arabia’s mining ambitions, as the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) unveiled transformative partnerships and investments aimed at securing the Kingdom’s role as a global leader in strategic minerals. These collaborations align with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals to diversify the economy, accelerate the energy transition, and position the nation as a hub for industrial innovation.

### **1. Strategic Alliances with Ivanhoe Electric: Technology, Equity, and Exploration**

Ma’aden’s groundbreaking partnership with **Ivanhoe Electric (IE)**, a NYSE-listed innovator in mineral exploration and electric metals, represents a leap forward in technological integration and global expansion. Key highlights include:

– **Equity Stake & Board Representation**: Ma’aden will invest **$126 million** to acquire a **9.9% equity stake** in IE, securing 10.2 million shares at $12.38/share. This grants Ma’aden a seat on IE’s Board of Directors, enhancing its influence in global mining decisions.
– **Joint Venture for Saudi Exploration**: A 50:50 JV will explore **48,500 km²** of Saudi licenses rich in copper, gold, nickel, and silver. IE’s proprietary **Typhoon™ technology**—a geophysical surveying system using high-power transmitters to detect sulfide minerals—will accelerate discovery while reducing risks and costs.
– **Global Reach & Critical Minerals Access**: The deal expands Ma’aden’s international footprint and provides access to IE’s projects in the U.S., including copper-rich zones vital for EVs and renewables.

### **2. Strengthening Ties with Barrick Gold: Expanding Copper Horizons**

Building on their existing Jabal Sayid copper mine success, Ma’aden and **Barrick Gold** announced **two new joint ventures** to explore adjacent areas:

– **Jabal Sayid South & Umm Ad Damar Licenses**: Located near existing infrastructure, these licenses offer synergies for cost-effective resource development. The partnerships aim to boost Saudi copper production, critical for domestic industrialization and global supply chains.
– **Economic Impact**: Enhanced copper output supports job creation and economic growth in remote regions, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s social development goals.

### **3. Broader Collaborations: 20+ Agreements to Revolutionize Mining**

Ma’aden signed **over 20 MOUs and agreements** with global giants like **Nokia, Shell, Bechtel, and Eurasian Resources Group (ERG)**. These partnerships focus on:

– **Technology Integration**: Deploying AI, automation, and IoT for efficient exploration and operations.
– **Sustainability Advancements**: Reducing energy consumption, improving water management, and accelerating decarbonization.
– **Talent Development**: Knowledge transfer to build local expertise and drive innovation.

### **4. Impact on Saudi Arabia’s Mining Sector**

These initiatives position Saudi Arabia as a nexus for strategic minerals and green technology:

– **Economic Diversification**: Reducing oil dependency by unlocking the Kingdom’s $1.3 trillion mineral wealth.
– **Energy Transition Leadership**: Supplying copper, nickel, and rare earths essential for renewables, EVs, and tech industries.
– **Global Supply Chain Integration**: Strengthening Saudi Arabia’s role in securing ethically sourced minerals amid rising global demand.

### **5. Leadership Insights: A Vision for the Future**

**Robert Wilt, CEO of Ma’aden**, emphasized the strategic importance of these moves:
> *“Our investment in Ivanhoe Electric and partnerships with industry leaders like Barrick are pivotal to becoming a top-tier supplier of minerals that will fuel tomorrow’s economies. Saudi Arabia is not just leveraging its resources but also driving global innovation in sustainable mining.”*

### **6. Conclusion: Pioneering a Sustainable Mining Era**

The 2023 Future Minerals Forum showcased Saudi Arabia’s bold vision to transform its mining sector into a global powerhouse. By combining cutting-edge technology, international partnerships, and vast mineral resources, Ma’aden and PIF are laying the groundwork for a future where the Kingdom leads in both economic growth and the global energy transition. As demand for critical minerals surges, Saudi Arabia’s strategic investments ensure it will play a central role in shaping a sustainable, tech-driven world.

**Keywords**: Saudi Vision 2030, strategic minerals, energy transition, Ivanhoe Electric, Barrick Gold, sustainable mining, Typhoon technology, Future Minerals Forum 2023.

**FAQs: PIF, Ma’aden, and Strategic Mining Partnerships**

1. **What is the objective of the PIF-Ma’aden partnership announced at the Future Minerals Forum 2023?**
The partnership aims to establish a new company for international investments in strategic minerals, securing value chains critical for Saudi Arabia’s industrial growth and energy transition through upstream mineral exploration and development.

2. **How does Ma’aden’s collaboration with Ivanhoe Electric (IE) enhance its global mining capabilities?**
Ma’aden gains access to IE’s Typhoon™ geophysical technology, expands its exploration portfolio across 48,500 km² in Saudi Arabia, and secures a 9.9% equity stake in IE, boosting its technological and international presence.

3. **What financial investment did Ma’aden make in Ivanhoe Electric, and what equity stake did it secure?**
Ma’aden invested $126 million to acquire 10.2 million shares at $12.38/share, securing a 9.9% equity stake in IE, along with a board nomination right to influence strategic decisions.

4. **What advanced technology will Ma’aden access through its joint venture with Ivanhoe Electric?**
Ma’aden will use IE’s Typhoon™ technology, which employs high-power transmitters to detect sulfide minerals containing copper, nickel, gold, and silver, accelerating exploration efficiency and reducing risks.

5. **Which strategic minerals will be explored in the Ma’aden-Ivanhoe Electric joint venture in Saudi Arabia?**
The JV focuses on exploring copper, gold, nickel, and silver across selected Saudi license areas, leveraging advanced technology to identify high-potential deposits for industrial and energy transition applications.

6. **How will the partnership with Barrick Gold expand Ma’aden’s copper production and exploration efforts?**
Barrick and Ma’aden formed JVs to explore the Jabal Sayid South and Umm Ad Damar license areas, synergizing with existing infrastructure to enhance copper output and regional economic development.

7. **What are the geographic focuses of the new joint ventures between Ma’aden and Barrick Gold?**
The JVs target areas near Jabal Sayid’s existing mine infrastructure, optimizing resource synergies and operational efficiency in copper and gold exploration within Saudi Arabia.

8. **How many partnerships or MOUs has Ma’aden established to boost its exploration and technical capabilities?**
Ma’aden signed over 20 agreements/MOUs with global firms like Nokia, Shell, and Bechtel to integrate advanced technologies, improve sustainability, and diversify its mineral exploration portfolio.

9. **What role does Ma’aden’s investment in Ivanhoe Electric play in Saudi Arabia’s energy transition goals?**
The investment supports securing critical minerals for renewable energy technologies, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify the economy and lead in global energy transition initiatives.

10. **How will Ma’aden’s partnerships contribute to job creation and economic development in remote Saudi regions?**
Exploration and mining projects in underserved areas will generate local employment, infrastructure development, and skill transfers, fostering economic growth aligned with national diversification strategies.

11. **What benefits does Ma’aden gain from nominating a director to Ivanhoe Electric’s Board?**
The board seat allows Ma’aden to influence IE’s strategic decisions, ensuring alignment with its goals and facilitating technology and knowledge transfer to Saudi Arabia’s mining sector.

12. **Which global companies are collaborating with Ma’aden through its 20+ agreements and MOUs?**
Partners include Nokia (digitalization), Shell (sustainability), Bechtel (infrastructure), and Eurasian Resources Group (mining expertise), enhancing operational efficiency and decarbonization efforts.

13. **How do Ma’aden’s partnerships align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification plans?**
By securing strategic minerals and advancing mining tech, Ma’aden supports reducing oil dependency, creating jobs, and positioning Saudi Arabia as a global mining and renewable energy hub.

14. **What environmental benefits are expected from Ma’aden’s technology-focused partnerships?**
Initiatives aim to reduce energy consumption, improve water management, and accelerate decarbonization, aligning with global sustainability standards and Saudi green initiatives.

15. **How does Typhoon™ technology improve mineral exploration efficiency for Ma’aden?**
Typhoon™ uses electromagnetic surveys to detect deep mineral deposits rapidly, reducing exploration timelines and risks while increasing accuracy in identifying copper, nickel, and gold reserves.

**CTA (Llamado a la Acción):**
¿Quieres estar al día con las últimas innovaciones en minería estratégica y energía limpia? **Súmate a la conversación** siguiendo nuestras actualizaciones sobre el Future Minerals Forum y descubre cómo Ma’aden y sus aliados globales están transformando el futuro de los minerales críticos. ¡Explora oportunidades de colaboración y sé parte de la revolución energética en Arabia Saudita!

**Conclusión:**
El anuncio de Ma’aden, respaldado por el Fondo de Inversión Pública, marca un hito trascendental para la industria minera global y la transición energética. Al forjar alianzas estratégicas con líderes como Ivanhoe Electric y Barrick Gold, y mediante inversiones en tecnología de vanguardia como el sistema Typhoon™, Arabia Saudita no solo está diversificando su economía, sino también posicionándose como un actor clave en la cadena de suministro de minerales críticos. Estos acuerdos, junto con más de 20 memorandos con gigantes como Shell y Nokia, reflejan una visión audaz: acelerar la exploración sostenible, impulsar la innovación tecnológica y fortalecer el desarrollo económico en regiones remotas. Este esfuerzo colectivo no solo garantizará el acceso a recursos esenciales para industrias futuras, sino que también consolidará el legado del Reino como un hub global de minería responsable y energía limpia.

**Agradecimiento:**
Agradecemos a todos los socios, innovadores y líderes globales que participaron en el Future Minerals Forum 2023 por su compromiso con el avance sostenible de la industria. Un reconocimiento especial al Fondo de Inversión Pública, Ivanhoe Electric, Barrick Gold y las empresas colaboradoras por su confianza en el potencial mineral de Arabia Saudita. Juntos, estamos construyendo un futuro donde la tecnología, la sostenibilidad y el crecimiento económico convergen para beneficiar a las generaciones venideras. 🌍🔋 #MineralsForTheFuture #EnergyTransition

*(Incluye emojis relacionados con minería, tecnología y energía para reforzar el engagement en redes sociales).*

Sheryll Mericido
Sheryll Mericido
Articles: 106

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