dams in Oman have a main purpose — to hold back water, especially during the rainy seasons that usually cause massive floods. Dams are not only a good source of water especially in cases of drought but are highly valued for their flood control functionality.
While this purpose is known to everyone, there are many secrets hidden in these dams that many don’t know about. They contain precious materials that could be economically profitable.
The silt accumulated in these dams is used in a variety of industries, including the production of fertilisers, the textile industry, building preservatives, artistic ceramic industries, and others. The initiative of the Arkan Foundation for Research, Development and Agricultural Innovation “Your Land” came to exploit the accumulated silt soil and transform it into innovative products.
An agreement was signed with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources to exploit the accumulated silt in five dams in the Sultanate of Oman in the first phase of the project at a total cost of RO 7 million, to be expanded later.
Abdullah al Shehi, CEO of “Your Land” Corporation, explained that the first phase of the project started in April this year in Wadi Al Jizi dam in Suhar, Wadi Ahin dam in Saham, Wadi Al Hawasna dam in Al Khabourah, Wadi Mistal in Nakhl, and Wadi Dhayqah dam in Qurayat. The value-added project’s investments are estimated at three million, ranging from innovative projects for agricultural inputs, industrial projects and raw materials for the construction sector targeting the local, regional and international markets.
The project will provide a number of direct job opportunities for Omanis, no less than 29, in addition to more than 70 indirect job opportunities in the first years of the initiative, and it will also support opportunities for small and medium enterprises.
The Arkan Foundation for Research, Development and Agricultural Innovation conducted a study to implement targeted value-added projects in partnership with investment funds and local, regional and international companies to achieve the strategic objectives of the initiative.
The objectives include cleaning dam lakes from accumulated soil to raise their storage efficiency and benefiting from dam resources to produce high-value-added products. It also aims at attracting investments to the Sultanate of Oman and supplying the local, regional and international market with innovative Omani industries to increase the utilisation of local natural resources.
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