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JEDDAH: The GEOMIN Symposium, the first-of-its-kind geoscience event in the region, kicked off in Jeddah on Sunday with the aim of tackling challenges in mineral exploration throughout Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

The three-day symposium, themed “Redefining Mineral Exploration, Potential, and Impact” was organized by the Saudi Geological Survey and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists and held under the patronage of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef.

The event gathers more than 342 experts, global mining leaders, geoscience innovators, researchers and academics from 34 countries, as well as more than 130 participating organizations.

At the opening of the symposium, Al-Khorayef said that GEOMIN 2025 is the technical heart of the vision and a space where geologists, researchers and experts exchange knowledge and advance the science that drives every successful mineral discovery.

“GEOMIN in Jeddah and Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh platforms combine scientific excellence with strategic investment, showcasing the Kingdom’s commitment not only to advancing its own mineral ecosystem but also to making meaningful contributions to the global mining community,” he said.

Abdullah bin Muftir Al-Shamrani, the CEO of SGS, told attendees that the mining sector has set a target to increase spending, aiming to raise the index to 200 Saudi riyals per square kilometer through a series of major and strategic initiatives in geological surveying, exploration and the geological database.

“As its first edition, GEOMIN serves as a premier platform for fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and sharing expertise. We are privileged to convene, for these next three days, an esteemed group of geoscientists, industry leaders, researchers, and academics from across the globe,” Al-Shamrani said.

He pointed out that the program reflects this spirit, featuring more than 100 presentations and contributions.

From seminars and panel discussions to keynote addresses and technical sessions, “GEOMIN offers an unmatched opportunity to share expertise, build partnerships, and explore solutions for a rapidly evolving sector,” he added.

SEG President Joseph Reilly told Arab News that GEOMIN underlines the importance of collaboration in unlocking mineral resources essential to global growth and energy transition.

He said the SEG Foundation exists to provide support for innovative activities and grant programs that will equip geophysicists with the tools they need.

“At SEG, we are an international organization which sees things like technology and projects all over the world and when we come to this part of the world, we enlighten our partners of these advanced projects and technology and eventually we connect people.”

Of the Saudi mining sector, he said: “It is an exciting sector. It is one of the places in the world where the government, the industry and the environment (are) ready to go.

“It seems that it’s the government’s objective to build an integrated and sustainable mining ecosystem that strengthens its industrial base and enhances the global supply chains.”

RIYADH: A green hydrogen and ammonia project is set to take shape in the Kingdom after ����ֱ�� Refineries Co. signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with UAE-based Go Energy. 

The deal will see the two companies conduct a joint study on the project and design a legal framework to support their collaboration, SARCO said in a statement to Tadawul.  

The MoU is valid for one year unless extended by mutual agreement, the statement added. 

The deal aligns with ����ֱ��’s wider strategy to generate 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and to become the world’s largest exporter of green hydrogen, targeting annual production of 1.2 million tonnes by the end of the decade. 

This commitment is part of the broader National Renewable Energy Program strategy, aimed at diversifying ����ֱ��’s energy portfolio and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. 

“SARCO is pleased to announce the signing of a non-binding MoU with the UAE-based GO Energy Company to collaborate on developing the green hydrogen (ammonia) project in ����ֱ��,” the Tadawul-listed firm said.  

SARCO added that the agreement has no immediate financial implications and involves no related parties. The move also reflects the company’s strategy to expand services through specialized energy partnerships. 

Green hydrogen, created through electrolysis powered by renewable energy, is seen as a critical component in reducing global carbon emissions because it produces no greenhouse gases during production. 

With a net-zero emissions target by 2060, ����ֱ�� is investing heavily in both green and blue hydrogen, with companies like Saudi Aramco and ACWA Power spearheading the energy transition in the Kingdom. 

The Kingdom is also building the world’s largest green hydrogen plant in the futuristic city of NEOM, expected to be operational by December 2026, as confirmed by NEOM Green Hydrogen Co. CEO Wesam Al-Ghamdi in November 2024. 

In July, ACWA Power also signed multiple agreements to export renewable electricity and green hydrogen to Europe, reinforcing the Kingdom’s drive to become a global clean energy hub.