Brazil and Saudi Arabia have taken a significant step toward deepening bilateral cooperation in the mining sector, signing a five-year memorandum of understanding aimed at advancing joint action on mineral exploration, processing and investment.
The agreement was signed in Riyadh by Brazil’s Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef, on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum, an annual global gathering focused on mineral supply chains and resource security.
According to Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, the memorandum establishes a broad framework for technical cooperation across the mining value chain, including geology, mineral exploration, mining operations and resource evaluation. It also provides for the exchange of specialists, joint training programmes and the sharing of technologies applied to geological surveys and mineral processing.
Within the limits of each country’s national legislation, the agreement encourages greater private-sector participation, opening the door to reciprocal investments in exploration and mining licences. The initiative reflects a shared interest in aligning capital, expertise and geological potential to support long-term sector development.
A central element of the memorandum is the proposal to create a Brazil–Saudi Arabia Mining Investment Alliance. The initiative aims to facilitate cooperation not only in mineral extraction, but also in processing and value addition, reinforcing the role of strategic minerals in industrial development and the global energy transition.
The partnership places particular emphasis on minerals linked to clean energy technologies and industrial decarbonisation. Planned areas of collaboration include research and innovation, environmental management practices and logistics infrastructure supporting mining activities.
The agreement builds on Brazil’s broader strategy to expand international partnerships in the mining sector, particularly with countries seeking to secure stable, diversified supplies of critical minerals. Saudi Arabia, in turn, has been strengthening its global engagement in mining as part of its long-term economic diversification agenda.
During the Future Minerals Forum, Saudi Arabia also signed similar cooperation agreements with other mineral-producing countries, underscoring the growing geopolitical importance of mineral supply chains and international collaboration.
Brazilian authorities view the memorandum as a platform for attracting investment, fostering knowledge exchange and supporting sustainable growth across the mineral sector, while reinforcing cooperation between two economies with complementary strengths.
Sources:
- ANBA (https://anba.com.br/en/brazil-saudi-arabia-to-cooperate-in-mining/)
- TVBrics (https://tvbrics.com/en/news/brazil-and-saudi-arabia-expand-mineral-cooperation-with-new-bilateral-memorandum/)
- MME (https://www.gov.br/mme/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/brasil-e-arabia-saudita-firmam-memorando-para-ampliar-cooperacao-em-recursos-minerais)
Photo:
- Brazil's Ministry of Mines and Energy (https://www.gov.br/mme/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/brasil-e-arabia-saudita-firmam-memorando-para-ampliar-cooperacao-em-recursos-minerais)
