Technology for Exploration and Production
The desert is thirsty for tech
After working with Ma’aden across different business units like phosphates and at the Mansourah-Massarah project, Hannes Storch, VP of metals and chemicals processing at Metso, noted: “There is a distinct openness in Saudi companies to go beyond traditional paths. For instance, Ma’aden seems far more open and willing to embrace new or improved technologies than many international companies, which might be tied to the fact that international firms often carry more legacy baggage.”
One of the main obstacles to technology adoption is capital investment. But is this a deterrent for a company like Ma’aden? For Storch, it is not, given the company’s clear vision rooted in Vision 2030: “They do not, however, jump into things blindly. Ma’aden conducts thorough and diligent analyses before taking any steps. For instance, in the phosphates sector, they have established careful partnerships with key players, showing they understand the landscape and choose wisely,” he warned.
While Metso’s technology starts in the CapEx phase, this sentiment is also shared in an earlier stage, or at least in those companies that provide technologies to the exploration segment: “Saudi Arabia is very exciting when it comes to technology uptake. In more established mining regions, tried-and-true methods often prevail, based on years of development, lessons learned, and established supplier bases. But in Saudi, the atmosphere is different; there is a palpable ambition and willingness to embrace out-of-the-box thinking, all driven by technology,” shared Junior Potgieter, global strategy head for minerals & mining at Viridien.
“We currently operate in the region through an agent, as our technologies are designed to be driller-operable and intuitive for geologists, allowing us to maintain a lighter footprint.”
Paul House, Managing Director and CEO, IMDEX
For Viridien, exploration will be intrinsically linked to technology in the future, especially in KSA, where the Saudi Geological Survey is still collecting information from the Arabian Shield: “The sheer volume of data being gathered is reaching a level where it is no longer feasible to analyze it all manually. That is where advanced data science, machine learning and AI come into play, transforming raw data into actionable insights to de-risk areas and optimize the drilling process,” Potgieter said.
IMDEX’s CEO, Paul House, provided us with insights into the potential of a more strategic approach in using technology in the exploration phase for ore-body knowledge and how mining could learn from oil and gas: “Typically, mines are developed through limited targeting and exploration, with more knowledge gained as the ore body is developed during production. In contrast, oil and gas invests more time understanding the ore body before extraction." This greater understanding before committing to a billion-dollar capital investment allows for precise deployment of capital, engineering planning, and ore body extraction, presenting the greatest opportunity to maximize returns and ensure success,” explained House.
Article header image by Kovalenko I at Adobe Stock