Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Associations Support Fund to establish an energy sub-sector fund. The fund aims to support non-profit associations specializing in various aspects of energy and enhance their development programs. The agreement is part of the government's efforts to empower and provide support for entities in the not-for-profit sector. The fund will focus on creating developmental sub-portfolios to increase the number of associations implementing sustainable and influential development programs [fbf36973].
In addition to the establishment of the energy sub-sector fund, Saudi Arabia continues its efforts to develop human capabilities in the industrial and mining sectors. The Ministry of Industry is working on a new strategy and national programs to support this goal. The ministry is currently in negotiations with Saudi universities, academies, and institutes to facilitate the qualification and development of capabilities. It is also collaborating with the Ministry of Education to incorporate skills required in the labor market, particularly those related to the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, into school curricula. The Ministry aims to create 2.1 million jobs in the industrial and mining sectors and is identifying special scholarship paths. It is also providing support to national programs and institutes, such as the Food Industries Institute in Al-Kharj [c5d277c4].
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia is offering new exploration licenses for gold, copper, zinc, lead, and silver ores. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has invited bids for six new high-value opportunities, covering a total area of over 940 sq. km. The prospects include the Al-Halahila site in Najran, which covers an area exceeding 34 sq. km. and hosts deposits of copper, zinc, and gold minerals. The Jabal Qaran site, also in the Najran region and spanning over 57 sq. km, is also available. The bidding is part of the fifth round of mining competitions across various regions of the Kingdom [780ea6b3].
