Under the leadership of CEO, Geoff Day, Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Company is driving growth in copper, zinc, gold, and iron ore whilst advancing sustainability and community impact. Fully aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the company is positioning the Kingdom’s mining sector as a cornerstone of the nation’s commitment to economic diversification.
MINING WITH PURPOSE: AMAK’S CONTRIBUTION TO BUILDING SAUDI ARABIA’S MINING FUTURE
As Saudi Arabia’s largest fully publicly listed mining company, Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Company (AMAK) is increasing production, diversifying into new commodities, and setting the stage for long-term growth in Saudi Arabia’s fast-evolving mining sector.
Incorporated in 2008 and listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) in 2022, AMAK produces copper, zinc concentrates, gold, and silver doré in distinct commercial quantities.
After the commissioning of a new plant to process the Moyeath orebody in 2024, the company now has the ability to annually process approximately 1.3 million tonnes (t) of ore.
This provides it with a yearly production in the range of 25-35,000 t of copper concentrate, 60-80,000 t of zinc concentrate, 30-40,000 ounces (oz) of gold doré, and approximately 550,000 oz of silver.
AMAK’s main operation is the Al Masane underground mine, which includes three main orebodies – Saadah, Al-Houra, and Moyeath – alongside its Guyan Gold Mine, located 20km to the east of Al Masane.
“Today, we remain focused on growing within the Kingdom, and we take pride in having our main mining operations concentrated in the Najran region, whilst our exploration sites extend throughout areas such as the Riyadh and Asir regions, reflecting our strategic expansion and vision for sustainable growth,” introduces Geoff Day, CEO.
AMAK differentiates itself from the competition in various ways, one of which is its commodity diversity, as the company is in the process of moving into iron ore, alongside assessing the potential for adding industrial metals.
“Another differentiating factor is our pace of growth. Just a few years ago, we had two mining leases and two exploration licenses; today, we have two mining leases, two additional mining leases under application, 25 exploration licenses, and 12 reconnaissance licenses,” details Day.
Additionally, the company benefits from the government’s Exploration Enablement Programme, which reimburses approved expenditure of AMAK’s greenfield exploration programme for selected exploration leases.
“AMAK is distinguished by having a strong Board of Directors that combines both local and international expertise, providing the company with a balanced, strategic vision and reinforcing the sustainability of its decisions,” expands Day.
Equally, as AMAK is the first fully publicly listed mining company on Tadawul, it has enhanced its transparency and appeal to local and international investors.
“AMAK is distinguished by having a strong Board of Directors that combines both local and international expertise, providing the company with a balanced, strategic vision and reinforcing the sustainability of its decisions”
Geoff Day, CEO, Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Company
A BALANCED STRATEGIC VISION
Day’s journey through the mining industry started as a result of his fascination with geochemistry and how metals are able to move through the environment.
“That interest took me into exploration and new project developments, and before long, I found myself working across the full cycle – exploration, development, operations, and even mine closures,” he details.
“Over the past 35 years, I’ve had the chance to work on projects across the globe. When the opportunity arose to lead AMAK in 2024, it felt like the right time to bring that international experience into Saudi Arabia, where the mining sector is really coming into its own.”
In today’s environment, mining is proving to be increasingly exciting. Globally, the push for electrification means that the demand for transition metals, such as copper and zinc, is only increasing.
Specifically, in Saudi Arabia, the potential is massive, and the government estimates there’s over USD$2.5 trillion worth of untapped resources in the Arabian Shield. Additionally, there’s strong government support, new mining laws, and incentives for exploration.
“From where I sit, it’s one of the most supportive mining jurisdictions I’ve ever worked in,” Day insights.
When Day joined in 2024, one of his first steps was to strengthen the company’s management team and tighten execution. In 2025, AMAK increased its exploration budget by four to five times and is actively setting up its own exploration drilling services subsidiary, meaning it will work faster, be more cost-effective, and have the option of offering services to other explorers and developers entering the Kingdom.
“Our goal for exploration is to extend the life of our current resource base to 15 or even 20 years, giving us the runway to think and plan on a much bigger and efficient scale,” Day explains.
FOCUSED AND NIMBLE
AMAK’s mission of creating long-lasting mining projects through innovation and technology ultimately comes down to knowing ore bodies and making the right choices early.
The Arabian Shield is full of volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits, which can generate significant shareholder value if understood and used wisely.
“At Moyeath, for instance, the ore grades are higher than what we were mining before. That translates into lower unit costs and stronger returns, which means, when combined with the upgrades to our processing capabilities, we’re able to get more out of the same rock,” Day details.
Equally, being focused and nimble in terms of new project developments is crucial. Bringing the next generation of AMAK mines into development and production is a key focus for the company as it works to build long-lasting projects.
Currently, AMAK is in the detailed planning stage for the development of various projects that will enable it to continue growing and lead as an industry trendsetter in Saudi Arabia.
The Al Masane mine expansion project, which was completed in 2024, included the addition of a new processing plant, thus lifting the company’s processing capacity to 1.3 million t per year and leading to increased zinc output by 80 percent and copper by 40 percent.
At Guyan, AMAK is moving underground, which will allow it to exploit the full gold resource more cost-effectively. Additionally, the company has applied for a mining license at Khutainah and, once granted, aims to begin producing within three to four months.
“Finally, we’re advancing the Nuham iron ore project to supply feedstock for Saudi cement plants. More exciting is our exploration effort which is showing promising results so far, and we expect to be able to share with the market the latest results in the coming months,” asserts Day.
“Our vision is that success is measured not only by production and profits, but also by the positive impact and sustainable legacy we leave behind, strengthening trust and integrating with communities”
Geoff Day, CEO, Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Company
STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITY
Crucial to AMAK’s continued success is the hard work and dedication of its team members and the company actively works to empower and recognise the contributions its employees make through various initiatives.
Specifically, Saudi Arabia offers programmes to empower local employees, and AMAK actively leverages these opportunities in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030, in which mining is now a key pillar.
Equally, the company is committed to empowering women and investing in increasing the number of female professionals working in the mining sector, recognising their vital role in shaping the future of the industry.
“Our workforce exceeds 700 employees (~39% Saudi and growing), and we are proud to see talented women now joining our operations team, pursuing exciting technical careers in this fast-growing industry,” Day points out.
In addition to its employee initiatives, the company also partakes in corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices.
“Sustainability and community engagement are part of how we work,” details Day.
When it comes to the environment, AMAK is expanding its dry tailings storage, connecting to the national power grid to reduce diesel use by the equivalent of up to 80,000 t of carbon dioxide annually. Earlier this year, the company also launched a project to reduce raw water consumption by 30 percent.
On the community side of things, the company has partnered with Najran University to support vocational training for students, enabling more young Saudi engineers and operators to join the industry and take a more active role in shaping the Kingdom’s mining future.
“At AMAK, we place great importance on the communities surrounding our operations. We implement numerous awareness initiatives and social programmes, both in the neighbouring areas and across the wider Najran region,” expands Day.
The company is also committed to supporting local content and empowering the people of the region to be true partners in its journey.
“Our vision is that success is measured not only by production and profits, but also by the positive impact and sustainable legacy we leave behind, strengthening trust and integrating with communities,” he continues.
As AMAK looks towards the future of mining in Saudi Arabia, it has three main goals. These include ramping up production from Moyeath, Guyan, Khutianah, and Nuham, focusing on exploring the company’s extensive mineral exploration leases and bringing the most prospective into development as soon as practically possible, and developing its exploration drilling subsidiary.
In the long term, once the company has consolidated nationally, it will look at international opportunities alongside diversifying its commodity portfolio to complement its strong position in gold, copper, and zinc.
“We also prioritise completing ongoing projects that serve our environmental objectives, such as connecting to the national power grid, which will help reduce emissions and enhance the sustainability of our operations,” concludes Day.
