By: Zawya

The awarded sites span a total area of 850 square kilometres, according to Ministry note.

Details are as follows:

·         Asir Region:

Wadi Ad Dawsh: Gold and Minerals Ltd Company. The site holds prospects for gold, silver and copper ore

Wadi Al Junah: Consortium of The Metal Bank Ltd and Mining Holding Company. The site holds copper, zinc, silver and gold deposits

Hazm Shubat: Consortium of RWAKEd and Masharf will prospect for gold.

·         Riyadh Region:

Umm Qusur: Consortium of ANS Exploration and Odyssey Metals Ltd. The site holds prospects for gold, silver, lead and zinc.

Shaib Marqan: Consortium of Auking and Barg Alsaman Mining Company.  The site has copper, silver and gold deposits.

·         Makkah Region:

Huwaymidan: Consortium of Midad Almona and Tinka Resources will prospect for gold.

The winning companies have pledged to spend 75 million Saudi riyals on exploration work, in addition to SAR 5 million on developing communities adjacent to mining sites.

The 7-year EEP programme is designed to encourage and increase investment in exploration for Class A minerals over an area of 4,000 square kilometres  in accelerated mode. Other highlights include 440,000 metres of drilling and 57,000 geochemistry samples.