Despite hosting more than 30% of global mineral reserves, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region severely lacks exploration and resource development investment. The region’s mining industry is facing several challenges, such as social and environmental pressure from communities living near mines, the depletion of shallow mineral reserves, water scarcity and market volatility. These are some of the main factors deterring development in the region, says nonmetallic minerals intelligence research company Industrial Minerals market analyst Shruti Salwan.
