Energy Capital Group (ECG), a Riyadh-based specialist investor, has launched a $300 million private equity fund aimed at supporting Saudi Arabia’s industrial transformation and advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives.

The ECG-Industrial Metals and Services Fund will focus on investments in integrated industrial and mining services that strengthen local supply chains and support long-term industrial growth.

The fund has already secured around US$100mn in soft commitments from investors. ECG focuses on energy, industrial and resource-based sectors, with a strategy centred on building and scaling businesses that reinforce critical supply chains and contribute to sustainable industrial development across the region.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 sets out an ambitious agenda to diversify the economy, attract domestic and international investment, and position the Kingdom as a global industrial and investment hub. Through targeted investments in metals services and supply chains, the new fund is intended to support these goals while capitalising on the Kingdom’s expanding mining and industrial base.

Ali Alturki, Managing Partner of ECG, said, “The aim of this fund is to capitalise on Saudi Arabia’s generational mining investment opportunity, supporting the localisation of essential services and driving innovation across industry and downstream processing.
This new fund will support the Kingdom’s ambition by investing in Saudi-based service platforms, positioning metals supply as a reliable, contracted service to the Kingdom’s industrial base.

“For this fund we are partnering with Jay Hambro and the Verdigris team who bring broad knowledge of the metals sector and an excellent track record of value delivery.”

Jay Hambro has joined ECG as Managing Partner for the ECG – Industrial Metals and Services Fund, with the team from Verdigris Strategic providing sector-specific strategic advice. Verdigris Strategic is a metals supply chain services advisory group with experience across global markets.

Hambro said, “ECG’s new fund’s strategy places it at the forefront of a rapidly evolving sector critical to the energy transition and supply chain resilience. Saudi Arabia has identified US$2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resource capability which is being scaled rapidly through licencing rounds, public capital and policy support. The Kingdom has recently issued over two thousand exploration licences and is targeting a US$75bn contribution to its GDP before the end of the decade.

“My team and I have been working with ECG, one of leading industrial services private equity investors in the region, for nearly four years and the fund is a natural evolution in this partnership.”

The fund was launched at the 2026 Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, a government-led platform focused on shaping the future of the global minerals sector, held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.

Metso expands its screening portfolio with the new Grande Series. (Image source: Metso)

Metso has expanded its screening solutions portfolio with the introduction of the new Grande Series

The series represents a significant enhancement for mining and aggregates operators, delivering high-performance screening technology designed to optimize capacity, uptime, and operational efficiency across the most demanding continuous-use applications.

The Grande Series introduces three new stationary screen types, GLH, GMF and GFF, each engineered to support high-capacity production environments and deliver improved flexibility. With larger screen sizes than previously available in Metso’s lineup, the range enables customers to achieve greater throughput, minimise maintenance interruptions, and tailor their operations more effectively to meet business objectives.

“It’s all about helping our customers succeed with the right tools for their unique needs. With the newly launched Grande Series, customers gain more flexibility, easier screen replacements, and access to solutions for even the most demanding screening tasks,” commented Jouni Mähönen, vice-president, screening business line, Metso.

Screening options designed for varied operational applications

The GLH horizontal screens are optimised for heavy-duty use, including demanding slurry and water-handling duties in mining operations. Meanwhile, the GMF multi-slope banana screens are built to accommodate high-capacity screening for fine and near-size particle processing.

These additions introduce engineered-to-order configurations and ultra-large screen formats that were previously unavailable in Metso’s stationary screen offerings.

The GFF flip-flow screen type adds further capability by enabling efficient separation of difficult materials and fine fractions, reinforcing Metso’s position as a full-scope screening partner.

Compatibility with Trellex screening media ensures the new series integrates seamlessly with Metso’s broader screening technologies, enabling complete end-to-end solutions for users.

Easier replacement of non-Metso screens and flexible reconfiguration options further support customers looking to enhance or modify existing operations without disruption.

“The Grande Series is a result of our continuous screening portfolio development. We are strengthening Metso’s position as a screening solutions partner – expanding our offering with larger screens, lighter duty screens, and new flip-flow technology. With new technologies, larger sizes, and advanced capabilities, we’re expanding our portfolio to support the most demanding applications and strengthen our position in the growing screening market,” remarked Michael Gyberg, vice-president, capital equipment business, Screening, Metso.

Metso will roll out the Grande Series globally, with the GLH and GMF screens debuting publicly in early December 2025, followed by the GFF Series at the end of the first quarter of 2026.

Expanded screening portfolio and service ecosystem

The new Grande Series complements Metso’s broader offering, which includes UFS Series, EF Series, and BSE Series screens within the Metso Plus program, alongside a comprehensive range of multislope, inclined, horizontal, mobile, portable, and ultrafine screening solutions. Paired with Trellex rubber and polyurethane media systems, Metso provides full-spectrum screening solutions for diverse material-handling needs.

PerformanceIQ® Hub – Optimising performance, minimising downtime. (Image source: FLS)

Strong partnerships between mines and their supply partners are built on optimising the health of productive assets, which remain at the core of operational efficiency. Collaboration and partnership need to add value on both sides; where insufficient value is created, there can be little room for meaningful collaboration.

FLS’s strategy begins with a strong global footprint, ensuring proximity to its customer base. This allows for not only quick response times but also proactive maintenance strategies. Regular visits and continuous engagement support asset health beyond the traditional reactive approach.

A proactive stance brings benefits such as ongoing performance monitoring, training, and skills transfer – all of which contribute to long-term productivity and improved asset performance.

Beyond the capital acquisition stage, productive partnerships also enhance adaptability of the operation to the changing characteristics of ore bodies over time. These changes affect key feed parameters and influence the consumption of water, power, and reagents.

Partnerships are also rooted in a shared commitment to sustainability and in reducing the environmental impact of mining and processing activity. This includes minimising carbon emissions through energy efficiency. This means making the most of equipment capacity through technology that enhances efficient operation while increasing throughput. Leveraging advanced technology, such as LoadIQ mill scanner technology, enables operations to optimise mill capacity – delivering greater throughput from the same asset and power draw.

Research and development are critical drivers of these sustainability efforts. Innovations such as FLS’s NexGen polyurethane screen panels are extending wear life by up to four times, supporting more efficient operations with longer periods between replacement and maintenance. This improves plant uptime, boosts efficiency, and ensures capital investment delivers the best value while minimising operating costs.

Recycling of wear parts is another important element of responsible asset management. While technologies like composite liners extend lifespan, eventual replacement is inevitable. FLS’s circular economy approach includes solutions for recycling worn liners, reducing waste in the value chain and supporting customers in meeting their sustainability requirements.

Digital advancements also play a vital role. FLS’s PerformanceIQ® provides a holistic platform that integrates asset health and performance monitoring. By linking condition monitoring and asset health, the platform ensures optimal performance. Continuous monitoring helps shift asset management from a reactive to a proactive approach, reducing downtime and enhancing overall productivity. AI and digital solutions empower operators with better insights, enabling data-driven decision making and proactive maintenance strategies.

Through these combined initiatives, FLS reinforces its role as a trusted partner, supporting mines in achieving sustainable productivity while optimising the health and performance of their assets.

Ivanhoe, QIA deepen minerals alliance

Ivanhoe Mines has formalised a new partnership framework with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) following the sovereign fund’s recent US$500mn strategic investment in the company.

The MoU was concluded during the visit of His Highness The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). During his trip, the Amir held discussions with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi on strengthening ties between the two nations, creating the backdrop for the Ivanhoe–QIA agreement.

Under the terms of the MoU, Ivanhoe Mines and QIA have established a broad framework intended to support the discovery, responsible development and long-term supply of critical minerals required for global decarbonisation and next-generation technologies.

Commenting on the agreement, Robert Friedland said, “The signing of the MoU, together with the strategic investment by the Qatar Investment Authority, is a strong vote of confidence in Ivanhoe Mines and our mission to supply the strategic metals that power global electrification and the rise of AI and large-scale datacentres. We are excited to build this long-term, world-class alliance as we unlock new frontiers in our hunt for the next generation of great discoveries, which we will sustainably mine together.”

QIA CEO Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi added, “This MoU is a testament of QIA’s commitment to building strategic partnerships with leading suppliers of critical minerals, supporting global efforts to develop new energy infrastructure and power advanced technologies. We are delighted to be working with Ivanhoe Mines and look forward to further growing our partnership, aimed at generating long-term, sustainable prosperity.”

The cooperation framework specifically recognises QIA’s support for Ivanhoe’s ongoing exploration and development pipeline, including the company’s substantial activities at the Western Forelands project in the DRC, where work continues to advance the Makoko District and other promising targets.

Both parties also intend to explore additional joint opportunities across regions of shared interest, covering mining ventures at various stages of development. Potential areas of collaboration include investment or financing agreements, access to QIA’s network of financial institutions for favourable funding of critical minerals projects, and joint consideration of future strategic mergers and acquisitions.

The MoU further sets out avenues for cooperation on enabling infrastructure—such as logistics, energy and water systems—as well as possible downstream initiatives, including smelting and refining capacity for critical minerals in Africa and other global jurisdictions.