Mining Show 2024 Kicks Off In Dubai To Highlight Energy Transition Minerals And Sustainability Goals

The Mining Show 2024 commenced with the support of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI). This event brings together governments, businesses, and investors to discuss advancements in mining. Saif Ghubash, Assistant Undersecretary for Petroleum, Gas, and Mineral Resources at MoEI, highlighted the increasing demand for minerals essential for clean energy and sustainability.

Ghubash stated, "Our world is at a turning point. The demand for minerals, particularly energy transition minerals, is soaring, driven by our collective ambition to embrace clean energy and a sustainable future." He emphasised that elements like lithium, copper, and cobalt are crucial for future technologies.

The UAE is crafting its inaugural Mineral Resources Strategy to advance its mining sector. This strategy aims to boost the mining sector's contribution to the non-oil GDP to 5% by 2030. Additionally, it seeks a 10% increase in mining companies operating within the UAE.

Ghubash noted that sustainability and stewardship principles will guide this journey. The UAE's industrial exports have risen by 61%, reaching AED187 billion by late 2023. Over three years, the industrial sector's GDP contribution grew by 55%, amounting to AED205 billion.

The UAE is expanding its reach beyond its borders by investing in critical minerals across Africa and Latin America. These efforts aim to secure lithium and copper supplies vital for global sustainability goals. "The UAE is not just looking inward; we are reaching outward," Ghubash remarked.

This investment strategy is part of a larger vision to establish a secure supply chain led by Emiratis. It spans from exploration to trading, supporting the global shift towards sustainable energy solutions.

The event underscores the UAE's commitment to fostering a robust mining sector while contributing significantly to global energy transitions through strategic investments and partnerships.

With inputs from WAM