Canada-Saudi mining pact sparks Northern College training initiative

In a significant move to bolster international mining cooperation, Canada and Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding on January 13, 2026. The agreement, inked during the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, aims to enhance collaboration in mineral resources, promoting trade and investment across critical mineral value chains.

Timmins-based Northern College is poised to play a pivotal role in this partnership. The institution has entered into a separate agreement with the Saudi Mining Polytechnic to share knowledge and develop the industry's workforce. Northern College President Mitch Dumas formalized this arrangement on January 15, 2026, at the forum.

Ahmed Baghdady, Northern's executive director of global engagement, emphasized the mutual benefits of this collaboration.

This partnership aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, a comprehensive plan to diversify the kingdom's economy and reduce its dependence on oil. The country claims to possess $2.5 trillion in mineral reserves and has significantly increased its mining exploration budget from $21 million in 2022 to $146 million in 2025.

Northern College's Haileybury School of Mines, celebrating over a century of excellence, is currently undergoing a major revival and rebranding effort. The school plans to update its curriculum to meet evolving industry needs.

The collaboration with Saudi Arabia will offer opportunities for Saudi students to study in Canada and for Northern College faculty to deliver technical training courses in Riyadh. Baghdady hinted at similar agreements in the works with other countries in the Middle East, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

In a related development, Ottawa-based Northern Graphite announced a $200 million joint venture with Saudi-owned Obeikan Investment Group to build a battery anode material plant in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.

These partnerships mark significant steps in Canada's strategy to attract $500 billion in new private sector investments and double non-U.S. exports within the next decade, reinforcing its position as a global energy and mining powerhouse.