NEOM CEO Reveals Digital Endeavors in Transforming Mining into a Clean Industry

NEOM CEO Reveals Digital Endeavors in Transforming Mining into a Clean Industry

A view of a panel discussion at the Future Minerals Forum held in Riyadh on Thursday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (Modon) revealed that more than 1,290 factories are now producing mineral products in Saudi industrial cities.

CEO of the NEOM project, Nadhmi Al-Nasr confirmed that the megacity being built on Saudi Arabia’s northwest Red Sea coast had achieved tremendous digital achievements that have transformed mining, making it ready to be a clean industry.

Speaking at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh on Thursday, Nadhmi Al-Nasr said that the $500 billion project is starting with “no legacy” when it comes to excavations, but has ambitions to bring “technology and innovation” to the sector.

He acknowledged that mining has a bad reputation, saying: “No matter what we do, mining perception is not good enough yet.”

Al-Nasr added: “We are digging into technology and innovation and the call for how can we bring aboard a green full chain mining from the mining field all the way to export and in-between industry.”

He went on to argue that “it is time for the mining industry to compete with the oil industry” as he called for the sector to move to “the next era.”

“Oil