Heavy-haul roads, run-of-mine stabilization, National Center for Environmental Compliance approval and modular camps rated above 50°C are needed to develop a greenfield mine in the remote Arabian Shield terrain in Saudi Arabia. WECO is a mining contractor for Vision 2030, providing integrated site preparation services from land clearance and road works to camp setup, testing and MIMR compliance documentation throughout Saudi Arabia.
What infrastructure does a greenfield mine development need in Saudi Arabia?
To build a greenfield site in the Saudi desert requires a heavy haul road, a stabilized drill or ROM pad, water, desert-rated camp, and documentation from the NCEC. Geology is prioritized before infrastructure is procured late causing delays in project. Of the 172 sites given to 24 companies during December 2025, mining investment KSA and Arabian Shield Exploration Saudi Arabia noted that many of the sites were without access and utilities. There are earthworks, roadways, pads, camps, and compliance, and these all need to be done on an integrated basis, while drilling and processing need specialists. It is the benchmark for Ma’aden’s SAR 400 billion expansion.
Heavy haul roads should be designed to accommodate 120 to 150 tonne combinations, have an 8-metre carriageway, include drainage of wadis, must have a Modified Proctor density of 95% and control dust. The alignments in Arabian Shield Exploration Saudi Arabia change from granite to be ripped/b blasted to weak regolith needing replacement. Light loads will not cause edge collapse but will cause rutting, standard proctor compaction is not enough. The flood returns analysis, culverts or causeways, erosion protection and freeboard are necessary at wadi crossings. Raised formations, sand fencing and dune clearance are required for an active erg terrain.
How must run-of-mine pads be engineered to support ore stockpile loads in the Arabian Shield?
A Saudi ROM pad must support 15–25 tonnes per square metre, use subgrade compacted to 98% Modified Proctor density, include 300 mm minimum engineered gravel, and provide bunds and flood-resistant drainage. Arabian Shield Exploration Saudi Arabia pads span weak regolith and hard granite, requiring test pits, undercutting, and localized blasting. Stockpile height and slope determine pressure; undercalculation causes settlement during first placement. Flash-rain wadi flows can undermine foundations, so geotechnical assessment must precede pad and drainage design.
What is the Vision 2030 environmental rules for earth works and site mobilization?
Earthworks must have an NCEC Environmental Management Plan in place prior to disturbance, which must include clearance, wadi buffers, dust suppression and a rehabilitation bond determined by the number of hectares disturbed and land classification. Unusually bad area measurement often slows down Vision 2030 mining investment KSA bond approval. Wadi setback will be suspended if violated. Documented water-application rates and frequencies are needed for workfaces. WECO creates bilingual plans, disturbance registers, bond schedules and inspection records prior to mobilization.
What are the modular infrastructure solutions needed for an Arabian Shield mining camp located in a remote area?
The units must be above 50°C, generate water, allow for a 7-day supply of water, include NCEC-compliant waste systems and include MIMR health controls for remote camps. Uninsulated container conversions don’t work well in summer. Peak cooling, 40% desert derating and standby capacity are required for generator sizing. The trucked-storage calculations or borehole analysis (if feasible) or recycling is required for sites more than 50 kilometres from water. There are three to four weeks for permits and municipal approvals; WECO sequences movements, approvals, utilities and commissioning.
Step-by-step: How to plan site mobilization for a greenfield mining project in Saudi Arabia
Successful site preparation mining Saudi Arabia follows eight stages:
1. Assess geotechnics: Evaluate road, pad and camp bearing, settlement, and drainage conditions.
2. Document baselines: Document the vegetation, wadis, hydrology and land classification prior to disturbance.
3. Secure permits: Submit MIMR/NCEC applications, EMP and bond calculation; allow 6-8 weeks.
4. Build access: Complete drainage/wadi designs prior to mobilization of plant.
5. Construct pads: Independently verify subgrade density before placing gravel.
6. Establish water: Store in commission before use, in borehole, pipeline or truck.
7. Install camp: Test accommodations, generators, wastewater, fire and communications.
8. Verify readiness: In preparation for drilling, WECO drafts Arabic-English MIMR documents and verifies controls.
The worth of Saudi mineral wealth is SAR 9.4 trillion. By 2030 Vision 2030 mining investment KSA will seek to attract over SAR 100 billion in private investment, and over SAR 240 billion in sector GDP.
| Infrastructure Area | Fragmented Delivery | Integrated Site Preparation |
| Access Roads and Wadi Crossings | Separate teams may create sequencing gaps between access construction, drainage design, and site mobilization. | Road alignment, drainage, wadi crossings, and mobilization requirements are planned as part of one coordinated program |
| ROM and Drill Pads | Geotechnical testing and earthworks may be managed separately, creating coordination risks during construction. | Ground conditions, subgrade preparation, compaction testing, and pad construction are coordinated before use. |
| Remote Mining Camps | Camp installation may be delayed by incomplete water, power, access, or environmental requirements. | Camp setup is coordinated with utilities, water supply, waste systems, access, testing, and readiness checks. |
| Environmental Compliance | Baseline records and site disturbance documentation may be prepared separately from construction activities. | Environmental documentation and disturbance controls are planned alongside site preparation and mobilization. |
| Project Readiness | Multiple contractors must coordinate schedules, responsibilities, and handovers. | A coordinated delivery model helps align key site preparation activities before drilling or other major operations begin. |
Quick Answer:
A successful greenfield mining project in Saudi Arabia depends on coordinated site preparation across access roads, drill and ROM pads, water supply, remote camp infrastructure, environmental compliance, and operational readiness. In remote Arabian Shield locations, an integrated site preparation approach helps align geotechnical works, earthworks, infrastructure installation, regulatory documentation, and project mobilization before major drilling or construction activities begin.
What are WECO’s integrated site preparation solutions for the Vision 2030 mining projects in Saudi Arabia?
WECO is a Mining contractor that provides site preparation for Vision 2030 which includes geotechnics, environmental documentation, roads, ROM pads and camps as one contract for mining Saudi Arabia. A mid-tier company required a 200-person camp and stabilised pad for a zinc-lead mineral deposit, located 120 kilometres away from any paved access to the area in Saudi Arabia. There were three wadi crossing requirements that were not identified in Desktop planning.
The road construction, pad development, camp provisioning and environmental consultants from Riyadh are not coordinated separately on a greenfield mine site 120 kilometres away from the nearest paved road and, therefore, do not make it operational. It is activated after all geotechnical design assessment, permit, roads, pad engineering, water supply, camp installation and testing and readiness are integrated in one program and could be activated as a direct Saudi experience. In December 2025, Saudi Arabia dedicated SAR 671 million to new exploration licenses. The infrastructure should be put in place first, prior to the drilling process for these projects.