Khaberni -The Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission issued more than 4900 import and export licenses for mineral raw materials last year, according to the head of the commission, Ziad Al-Saayida.
Al-Saayida pointed out that the commission conducted more than 2900 supervisory field visits aimed at protecting national wealth from unlawful exploitation in quarries and mines, and enforcing quality control systems on extraction and trading operations.
He confirmed that the commission continued in 2024 to perform its regulatory and supervisory role over one of the most vital and strategic sectors in the Kingdom, grounded in the royal directives and translating the priorities of the economic modernization vision, and progressing in establishing an investment-stimulating regulatory environment based on balancing consumer interests and encouraging competitiveness.
Al-Saayida explained that the commission, starting from its commitments to enhance energy supply security and diversify local sources, facilitated during the year licensing procedures for quality projects, most notably the licensing of the first station to compress locally produced natural gas from the Risha gas field, a strategic step that contributes to reliance on local production and supporting the competitiveness of the industrial sector, within a national trend towards efficient, safe, and sustainable energy sources.
In the electric transportation sector, Al-Saayida indicated that the commission licensed about 200 charging stations for electric vehicles across the Kingdom, in addition to replacing more than 80% of traditional electricity meters to become smart meters in all sectors, which is considered a qualitative leap in the digital transformation of the sector enhancing the efficiency of consumption, improving billing mechanisms, and reducing electrical loss, in line with the transition towards a smart and sustainable electrical network.
In the field of radiation and nuclear work, the commission achieved an unprecedented regional achievement, represented in connecting the stationary radiation monitoring stations to the international monitoring network (IRMIS) of the International Atomic Energy Agency, making the Kingdom one of the first Arab countries to implement this connection. This enhances the national readiness level for responding to radiation emergencies and raises the level of international coordination in this field.
Al-Saayida pointed out that the achievements accomplished during 2024 marked a qualitative leap in providing service to licensees, investors, and citizens, establishing standards of transparency and governance, which was crowned by the commission receiving the King Abdullah II Award for Excellence in Government Performance and Transparency in the category of infrastructure and energy, a high national achievement reflecting the commission's staff efficiency and its distinguished institutional system.
The commission renewed its commitment to continue the effective institutional approach, achieving a balance between protecting rights and stimulating investment within a clear national vision, aiming for a safe, sustainable, and highly efficient energy and minerals sector that serves the public interest.
