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Saudi Arabia in innovative talks over Zambia copper mine stake, Ma'aden CEO states

Saudi Arabia is in the advanced stages of talks about a stake in a copper mine in Zambia and is expecting an offer by the end of the year, the CEO of Saudi Arabia's flagship mining company Ma'aden informed Reuters on Wednesday.

We are looking at Zambia, we are talking with a company there, with a mine there, so those are pretty innovative phase discussions, CEO Robert Wilt, who is also vice chairman of Saudi Arabia's global mining endeavor Manara Minerals, stated.

We 'd have something finished up by the end of the year, Wilt, speaking on the sidelines of the Future Financial Investment Forum conference in Riyadh, said.

Sources informed Reuters earlier this month that Manara, a joint endeavor in between Ma'aden and Saudi Arabia's $925. billion Public Mutual fund was surrounding a deal to purchase a. minority stake in Canadian miner First Quantum Minerals'. Zambian copper and nickel properties.

The sources had actually said the Saudi company was in innovative talks. to acquire between 15% and 20% equity in the Zambian properties with. one of them approximating the stake at in between $1.5 billion and $2. billion.

Obviously, Africa is mineral abundant with a lot of copper in. the copper belt. So it simply makes perfect sense, because the. geographical distance and our desire for copper to be looking. in Africa, Wilt stated.

Manara has made considerable financial investments in metals as part of. Saudi Arabia's efforts to protect minerals and expand Saudi. Arabia's mining sector.

The nation's growing mining industry is a crucial pillar in. de-facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's Vision 2030. program to diversify the economy far from oil dependency.

Manara's first major foray abroad was an offer to become a 10%. shareholder in Vale's $26 billion copper and nickel. spin-off Vale Base Metals in 2023.

Wilt stated copper was ending up being a top priority for Manara. since it was a base metal like aluminum that would be. significantly in demand with the energy shift.

The specific niche battery metals, while crucial, are not as. fundamental to the success of the advancement of the downstream,. however copper is necessary..

(source: Reuters)