Government | Friday 23 November, 2018 12:22 am |

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman inaugurated on Thursday the first phase of the projects of Waad Al-Shamal industrial City worth SR55 billion and laid the foundation stone for the second phase of its projects and facilities costing SR30 billion in Turaif, in the Northern Border Region. The ceremony was held in the presence of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Upon arrival at the venue of the ceremony, the King was received by Prince Faisal Bin Khalid Bin Sultan, emir of the Northern Border Region, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Transport Dr. Nabil Al-Amoudi, and Deputy Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Khalid Al-Mudaifer.

During the ceremony, King Salman watched a video presentation highlighting the noble feelings of young Saudi men and women on this auspicious occasion. Speaking at the ceremony, Al-Falih lauded the great efforts exerted by the King and the Crown Prince, in light of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, in realizing this massive industrial development projects.

The minister noted that the Northern Border Region holds around seven percent of the world’s phosphate reserves. He said the Kingdom’s investments during the first phase of the Waad Al-Shamal project amounted to SR55 billion, adding that SR31 billion represents the Saudi investments which include phosphate fertilizer plant with a capacity of three million tons annually.

Al-Falih affirmed that when the second phase is completed, the Kingdom’s production would rise to nine million tons annually, making it the world’s second-largest producer of phosphate fertilizers. After watching a video featuring the industrial projects in Waad Al-Shamal, the King launched and laid the foundation stone for the industrial projects in the second phase of the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Transport Al-Amoudi said that this project is implemented in light of integration among the system of energy, industry and mining as well as the system of transport and logistics services. He affirmed that the Saudi Railways Company (SAR) is one of the most prominent strategic partners in implementing and operating the developmental project of Waad Al-Shamal.

“SAR has contributed significantly in the development of this city with linking it with the North-South Railway, which is the longest in the Middle East with a length of 1,550 km. The Mining Railway will help withdraw more than 70,000 trucks from the road in a month,” he said, adding that since 2011, SAR trains have transported more than 37 million tons of phosphate and other minerals.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) have linked Waad Al-Shamal City for Mining Industries with the North-South Railway.

The King decorated Prince Faisal Bin Turki, advisor at the Royal Court, with the King Abdulaziz Sash in recognition of his outstanding contributions in materializing Waad Al-Shamal projects. The Monarch also attended a luncheon banquet at the conclusion of the ceremony.

King Salman, who arrived in the Northern Border Region on Wednesday night, launched 65 development projects worth a total of SR10.53 billion during a public reception in Arar. These include 17 education projects costing SR2.08 billion and municipal projects amounting to SR968 million.

Waad Al-Shamal is an integrated mining city, located northeast of Turaif city in the Northern Border Region. The Council of Ministers has allotted an area of 290 sq. meters for the City and 150 sq. meters for Maaden Company Project for Phosphates Industries.

The city will focus on a number of basic industries including phosphoric acid, aluminum fluoride, potassium and soda ash. The manufacturing industries will include a glass complex, soap and other detergents, animal feed and paints.