State-controlled Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (Maaden) has signed a SR 95 million contract with Al-Olayan Descon for the construction of a new mineral processing plant in Madinah.

The plant will cost 95 million riyals ($25.3 million) and produce 140,000 tonnes per year of magnesite over the next 20 years.

The scope of work involves the building of mine infrastructure at the Al-Gazalah Magnesite (Magnesium Carbonate) deposit, 160 km southwest of Hail, to extract mineral and supply the plant.

According to a company official, work at both sites will begin as soon as mobilization is complete.