Yokogawa celebrates its 110th anniversary in 2025. What has been its evolution in the Middle East?

NS: Yokogawa has been at the forefront of industrial automation, providing advanced control systems, sensors, and solutions to ensure smooth operations. In the Middle East, we have partnered with key players like Saudi Aramco, ADNOC and SABIC, with Saudi Arabia emerging as our largest market in the region. Since 2006, we have established local entities for sales, engineering and service, supporting our strong presence in the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia is now one of our top global markets, just behind Japan and China. In 2020, we set up a factory at King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) to manufacture sensors, panels and integrate systems, aligning with IKTVA and Saudization goals. Beyond oil and gas, we have expanded into mining, collaborating with Ma’aden on projects like Phosphate 3 and providing solutions for gold processing.

Can you tell us more about Yokogawa’s role in the Phosphate 3 project with Ma’aden?

NS: Yokogawa has enjoyed a strong partnership with Ma’aden, starting with Phosphate 1, where we delivered control and safety systems. This collaboration continued through Phosphate 2 and now into Phosphate 3 Phase 2, which is a significant step forward for Saudi Arabia’s growing mining sector. We are excited to deepen our involvement with Ma’aden and, looking ahead, plan to expand into gold and aluminum projects. 

FM: For the Phosphate 3 project, we will be bringing in technologies we have successfully used in other regions, especially around digitalization, robotics, drones, advanced control systems and AI. We will improve efficiency, reduce carbon footprint and boost production without redesigning the whole process. Instead, we optimize the existing equipment, which means lower upfront costs but significant long-term benefits. It will take a bit of time for these technologies to be fully adopted in Saudi Arabia since the level of automation and digitalization you see in places like Australia and South America is not quite there yet. However, as the push for reducing carbon footprints grows and aligns with Vision 2030, we will likely see these technologies start to make their way into the Kingdom.

Where do you see the biggest growth opportunities for Yokogawa in Saudi Arabia?

NS: Mining is a key growth area for Yokogawa in Saudi Arabia. With the discovery of copper, zinc and other resources, we are excited to support the government in accelerating production. Our solutions for advancing industrial automation to industrial autonomy (IA2IA) will enable plants to operate more independently and efficiently. 

FM: With the Kingdom focusing more on efficiency and sustainability, our technologies are right at the center of these changes. We offer solutions for energy management, helping industries use renewable energy, reduce carbon emissions and optimize energy use. These solutions are becoming more important, especially in the mining sector, as they work to meet the new environmental regulations and sustainability targets of Vision 2030.

What can you tell us about the use of digital twins?

FM: For mining, we have introduced this concept through our Operator Training Simulator (OTS), currently used at Ma’aden. The OTS helps train new operators and maintenance staff, transferring knowledge and skills. Our next step is to evolve this into a full digital twin, allowing operators to interact with a higher-resolution model of the process, manipulate control algorithms, and implement them directly on-site.

What can we expect from Yokogawa in the coming years in the region?

NS: We are committed to nurturing young Saudi talent through internship programs and by sharing our global expertise, particularly from markets like Japan. Collaborations with institutions such as King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals aim to develop the next generation of mining professionals. Additionally, we are exploring cutting-edge technologies, including space-based solutions and satellite systems, to provide real-time monitoring for mining operations and exploration, further enhancing efficiency and innovation in the sector.

FM: We have been working across different industries for decades, and one of the things that drives us is co-innovation. We believe in teaming up with our partners to tackle challenges and find the best solutions. In the mining sector, our goal is to help make operations cleaner and more efficient while bringing in new tech that keeps Saudi Arabia competitive globally.