Orion and SNB Capital Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Saudi Arabia’s Mining and Critical Minerals Sector
Global mining investor and Saudi financial powerhouse align to unlock the Kingdom’s mineral potential under Vision 2030
Orion Resource Partners LP, a global investment firm specialising in mining and metals, has entered into a strategic partnership with SNB Capital Company, the leading capital markets institution of the Saudi National Bank, to support the development of Saudi Arabia’s mining and metals industry.
The collaboration, announced in Riyadh, is designed to boost investment, expertise and production capacity in the Kingdom’s rapidly emerging minerals sector, with an emphasis on critical commodities that underpin clean energy and industrial infrastructure.
The agreement represents the first partnership of its kind in Saudi Arabia’s mining sector, aligning with the government’s Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy.
Under the framework, Orion will contribute deep technical, financial and operational expertise from its global portfolio, while SNB Capital provides strong local market insight and institutional support.
Together, the partners will identify and support mining and midstream projects with the potential to advance into near-term production, contributing to the establishment of secure, diversified and resilient critical minerals supply chains.
Saudi officials have highlighted the country’s vast untapped mineral resources, which include gold, copper, rare earth elements and other strategic materials, and are estimated to be worth trillions of riyals following recent geological surveys.
Exploration spending and licensing activity have surged, reflecting a broader push to elevate mining as a key pillar of economic growth alongside oil and petrochemicals.
Abdulrahman Almashal, Chief of Staff at SNB Capital, said the partnership will help realise the Kingdom’s ambition to emerge as a major global participant in the critical minerals sector, creating long-term value for Saudi markets.
Tim Keating, Managing Partner at Orion, underscored the global acceleration of demand for critical minerals and praised the opportunity to deploy capital thoughtfully into high-quality mining and midstream assets that support Saudi Arabia’s industrial goals.
The alliance is expected to attract further foreign direct investment and advance Saudi Arabia’s mining ecosystem, which has been reinforced by regulatory reforms and licensing initiatives aimed at fostering competitive and transparent investment conditions.
Further details on specific project investments and timelines are anticipated as the partnership evolves.
The collaboration, announced in Riyadh, is designed to boost investment, expertise and production capacity in the Kingdom’s rapidly emerging minerals sector, with an emphasis on critical commodities that underpin clean energy and industrial infrastructure.
The agreement represents the first partnership of its kind in Saudi Arabia’s mining sector, aligning with the government’s Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy.
Under the framework, Orion will contribute deep technical, financial and operational expertise from its global portfolio, while SNB Capital provides strong local market insight and institutional support.
Together, the partners will identify and support mining and midstream projects with the potential to advance into near-term production, contributing to the establishment of secure, diversified and resilient critical minerals supply chains.
Saudi officials have highlighted the country’s vast untapped mineral resources, which include gold, copper, rare earth elements and other strategic materials, and are estimated to be worth trillions of riyals following recent geological surveys.
Exploration spending and licensing activity have surged, reflecting a broader push to elevate mining as a key pillar of economic growth alongside oil and petrochemicals.
Abdulrahman Almashal, Chief of Staff at SNB Capital, said the partnership will help realise the Kingdom’s ambition to emerge as a major global participant in the critical minerals sector, creating long-term value for Saudi markets.
Tim Keating, Managing Partner at Orion, underscored the global acceleration of demand for critical minerals and praised the opportunity to deploy capital thoughtfully into high-quality mining and midstream assets that support Saudi Arabia’s industrial goals.
The alliance is expected to attract further foreign direct investment and advance Saudi Arabia’s mining ecosystem, which has been reinforced by regulatory reforms and licensing initiatives aimed at fostering competitive and transparent investment conditions.
Further details on specific project investments and timelines are anticipated as the partnership evolves.
