Saudi Arabia has in recent years been under scrutiny as a major
player in the oil-based carbon economy, but it is now drawing
praise for its strategic shift towards the discovery and extraction
of minerals and metals.
In an online media session to discuss the implications of the
Kingdom's new mining regime, global industry leaders and
specialist lawyers were unanimous in their positive view of Saudi
Arabia's anticipated role in a more sustainable global
economy.
This conversation was held in the context of the Kingdom's
Mining Law of 2020 and, more recently, the Future Mining Forum,
FMF, a convening of political and business leaders held in Riyadh
from Jan. 11 to 13.
Ernst Muller, a South African lawyer specializing in natural
resources law and environmental, social, and governance framework,
known as ESG, began the discussion by pointing out that, "a
global transition to new energy sources" is underway and that
"the FMF was focused on what countries should be
