related industries reached SR13.5 billion in 2006 while profits were at SR4.5 billion. Investments meanwhile reached SR40 billion during the said year. Up to 300 million tons of mineral ores were exploited in 2006 compared with 265 million tons, of which 5 million tons were allowed to be shipped abroad together with 440,000 cubic meters of decoration stones. Of the new licenses, Al-Naimi said in his report that 152 were for building material quarries, 122 for reconnaissance, 6 for prospecting, 3 for marble quarries, 9 for small quarries and 4 for mining. As to the renewed licenses, they reached 289 of different kinds of mining licenses. Therefore, the total valid mining licenses by the end of 2006 reached 1270 with an increase of 72 licenses compared to 2005. --MORE