Oman Signs Agreements to Boost Mining Sector with Copper and Salt Projects

The Ministry of Energy and Minerals in Oman signed two significant mining concession agreements today, aiming to enhance copper ore exploration and sea salt extraction.

The first agreement, signed with Al Haditha Energy, grants rights to prospect and mine in Concession Area No. 22-B, located in North A’Sharqiyah Governorate. The agreement was inked by Eng. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, and Sayyid Khalid Hamad Al Busaidi, Chairman of Al Haditha Energy’s Board of Directors.

The concession area spans 1,448 square kilometers, covering the “Al Washhi-Al Majazah” site in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi. According to international standards, the site holds over 16 million tons of copper, with mineable reserves exceeding 10 million tons. Initial exploration activities will include topographical, geophysical, and remote sensing surveys, geological mapping, and geochemical analysis over a three-year period. Drilling will involve approximately 27 holes with a total length of 4,000 meters.

The second agreement, signed with Al Baraka Petrochemical Salts Company, covers Concession Area No. 62-A in Al Wusta Governorate. This 46-square-kilometer area is focused on extracting salt from the Al Lakbi region through seawater evaporation. The project is expected to produce approximately 4 million tons of salt annually, with an estimated investment of $29 million.

The agreement includes the establishment of multiple industrial plants, such as:

• A salt washing and purification plant for industrial and food salt production.
• A magnesium compounds production plant.
• A sodium sulfate production plant.
• Bromine and lithium compounds production facilities.

In addition to these agreements, Oman recently signed 21 concession agreements for exploration and mining, along with two areas for sea salt production. These initiatives represent a total exploration investment of approximately $86 million, with $46 million already spent on activities such as drilling and geophysical surveys.

To further bolster the sector, the Ministry has offered six new concession areas via the “Taqa” digital platform. These areas, distributed across Oman, target raw materials such as copper, chromium, nickel, silica, gabbro, and kaolin, supporting local industries and promoting economic diversification.