Saudi Arabia holds considerable exploration opportunities and globally diversified mining and metals company South32 is watching the space closely for potential prospecting and partnership options in the future, CEO Graham Kerr told Mining Weekly in an interview at the Future Minerals Forum (FMF), which was held last week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is bolstering investment in the mining industry as part of its Vision 2030 to diversify the economy and reduce its dependence on oil.

Saudi Arabia Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar Al-Khorayef announced that the country would this year offer mineral exploration options spanning an area of about 50 000 m².

Following South32’s participation at FMF 2025, Kerr said that key for the company was determining whether there was an opportunity for exploration in Saudi Arabia, as well as for partnerships outside of it.

Discussions at the FMF highlighted the exploration potential that existed outside of Saudi Arabia as well, with the kingdom’s government and mining companies looking to invest in these.

Kerr said South32 would explore the potential for partnerships in this regard, to assist the company with some of its potential exploration and development projects.

He highlighted that the company was currently running about 25 exploration programmes globally.

“This is our first year attending FMF, and we now have an idea of opportunities the company could pursue in the future in terms of mutual interest,” Kerr averred, adding that South32 had made several connections it could look to leverage in the future.

He added that the company saw particular potential in copper, with supply gaps expected. Moreover, the FMF also underscored the exploration potential for this in the kingdom, and South32 would be analysing the data around this.

Kerr highlighted that South32 had copper projects in Argentina and Alaska that, over time, it might require a partner to help develop, and the company would be considering the suitability of Saudi Arabian partnerships for this.

Also, Kerr said South32 would be “watching with interest” the kingdom’s efforts to become a mineral resources processing hub, and what this would mean for the company’s business of selling various product and concentrate to smelters.

“This could be an alternative market for us,” he posited.