Ministers from more than 77 countries are gathering at the Future Minerals Forum 2024 in Riyadh today to discuss challenges in the mining and metals sector. The meeting marks the beginning of the 3rd edition of Future Minerals Forum which is an event that focuses on the future of the mining industry. The Future Minerals Forum 2024 aims to address the heightened demand for energy transition minerals.
Key participants
In today’s ministerial roundtable, China, the U.S., and the U.K. are participating along with ministers from the European Union, Germany, and Russia. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the World Bank, and the United Nations also have a presence at the meeting.
The Future Minerals Forum 2024 expects to attract participants from 80 countries, featuring over 45 ministers and representatives from 20 international organizations. 30 non-governmental organizations and 13 business associations will also participate. As nations race to secure stable supply chains, collaborative efforts will be at the forefront, with a key focus on supporting technology development.
Green mineral supply chain
Central to the discussions is the promotion of a green mineral supply chain. A green mineral supply chain utilizes reliable hydrogen and renewable energy sources to power this transformative journey. Moreover, the Future Minerals Forum 2024 roundtable underscores the significant contribution of the region, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s leadership role.
Global cooperation
The Future Minerals Forum 2024 goes beyond being a platform for discussion. It stands as a beacon for global cooperation in the production of critical minerals essential for transforming the energy sector. Discussions will feature government representatives, officials from multilateral organizations like the UN and the World Bank, trade and business associations, and NGOs focused on sustainability and community development.
Saudi Arabia’s Vice-Minister for Mining Affairs, Khalid Saleh Al-Mudaifer, highlights the growing importance of minerals. He emphasizes the strategic role of minerals, particularly in the energy transformation. Therefore, this positions the forum as a leading global platform for shaping the future of the mineral and energy sector.
Read: Saudi Arabia’s mining sector revenues exceed SAR1.5 billion
Agenda topics
The Future Minerals Forum 2024’s agenda covers a range of pivotal topics, including building societal trust through responsible mining practices; implementing high standards of environmental, social, and governance performance; and exploring the certification of metal production and supply for enhanced transparency and accountability. The roundtable will also evaluate the role of ‘centers of excellence’ in shaping critical minerals strategies.
Following today’s ministerial meeting, the Future Minerals Forum 2024 run from January 10 to 11, 2024. It will serve as a global platform to deliberate on pivotal issues in the mining industry. With 220 speakers, the event anticipates drawing nearly 13,000 participants.
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