Rare earths, uranium discovered in Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Medina

Saudi Arabia’s energy minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, announced Monday that geologists have identified a 110-million-ton deposit of rare-earth minerals and uranium in Medina, according to Breitbart News, citing Saudi outlet Al Arabiya.

Speaking at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s annual conference, the prince said the find would support the kingdom’s economic diversification and pledged compliance with international non-proliferation rules, adding that development would not occur “through activities conducted in secrecy.”

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi welcomed the announcement, saying the agency would support Saudi Arabia’s nuclear programme. The discovery follows earlier U.S.-Saudi agreements on nuclear energy and rare-earth mining, part of Riyadh’s Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.