The inspection tour covered phosphate industries, infrastructure projects and support services of Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (Maaden) to develop its phosphate and aluminum complex.

Abdullah Al-Saif, chairman of Maaden's board of directors, said the new industrial and mineral projects in Ras Al-Zour would create more job opportunities for Saudis.

"It will also contribute to the transfer of foreign technology and realizing the Kingdom's strategic objectives."

He said the new mineral projects would also help the Kingdom exploit its natural resources for local use and export quality products to foreign countries.

"The progress achieved in the implementation of the North-South Railway and Ras Al-Zour Port will also support imports and exports," he said.

Khalid Al-Mudaifer, CEO of Maaden, said his company would start producing phosphate in the second quarter of 2011. "Our phosphate complex is the largest in the world," he said, adding that Saudi mineral products are capable of competing with products of other countries in the international market.

He said the Maaden plant in Ras Al-Zour will produce 2.92 million tons of diammonia phosphate (DAP) and 440,000 tons of ammonia annually in addition to 160,000 tons of phosphoric acid.

He said Maaden's aluminum products would be marketed in the Kingdom, in the Middle East and world markets. Maaden's smelter and rolling factory will start production in 2013, he added.

Mansour Al-Maiman, secretary-general of Public Investment Fund, said the railway project would be completed shortly. "We have completed construction of 1,213 km and now remains only 166 km. Train engines and carriages have already arrived."