The Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM) signed two key mining concession agreements on Wednesday, marking a significant step in Oman’s efforts to strengthen its mining sector. These agreements focus on the exploration and extraction of copper ore, other ores, and sea salt, aiming to maximize local resource utilization and bolster economic diversification.

The first agreement was signed with Modern Resources Company, granting mining rights for concession area No. 22-B in North Sharqiyah Governorate. The agreement was formalized by H.E. Eng. Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, and Sayyid Khalid bin Hamad al Busaidi, Chairman of Modern Resources Company. Covering an area of 1,448 square kilometers, this concession includes the Al Washhi-Al Majazah site in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi. Modern Resources is the first Omani company with an international joint venture to secure a copper mining license in Oman. The site contains over 16 million tonnes of copper, with mineable reserves exceeding 10 million tonnes, as per international standards.

During the initial three-year exploration phase, the company will conduct topographical and geophysical surveys, remote sensing, geological mapping, geochemical analyses, and drill 27 exploratory holes totaling 4,000 meters in depth. These activities aim to optimize resource extraction and operational efficiency.

The second agreement, signed with Al Baraka Petrochemical Salts Company, grants exploration and production rights for concession area No. 62-A in Al Wusta Governorate. This agreement, signed by H.E. Aufi and Dr. Abdul Redha Mohammed Harmati, CEO of Al Baraka Petrochemical Salts Company, covers 46 square kilometers and focuses on salt extraction from the Lakbi area through seawater evaporation. The project targets an annual production of 4 million tonnes of salt and includes plans to establish multiple industrial facilities. These include plants for salt washing and purification, magnesium compounds, sodium sulfate, bromine compounds, and lithium compounds.

H.E. Aufi emphasized that these agreements are pivotal in enhancing social responsibility by creating economic opportunities and positively impacting citizens’ lives. The ministry is actively working to strengthen the mining sector as a cornerstone of Oman’s economic diversification strategy. Recently, 21 mining concession agreements and two sea salt production projects have been signed, with exploration investments totaling $86 million, of which $46 million has already been utilized for drilling and surveys.

Additionally, MEM launched six new concession areas via the Taqa digital services platform, targeting raw materials such as copper, chromium, nickel, silica, gabbro, and kaolin. These initiatives aim to integrate upstream mining with downstream manufacturing, supporting vital sectors such as industry, trade, transportation, and ports while boosting local content and industrial development.