The changes greatly extend the purview of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, which previously only provided financing to local manufacturing businesses.
While the producers will be conscious that AMCU led the country’s longest ever platinum mining strike in 2014, none can meet its demand for a pay increase of as much as 48% without undermining their businesses.
After a supply glut sent cobalt prices plummeting about 70% from the peak, many of the country’s artisanal miners are now switching focus to copper instead.
