Pact signed to produce 400,000 tonnes of salts annually

MUSCAT: The Ministry of Energy and Minerals signed a mining concession agreement with a local firm for concession area No. (51-k) in the Wilayat of Mahout, Al Wusta Governorate. The 109-square-kilometre site is earmarked for extracting industrial salt, with an initial annual production target of 400,000 metric tonnes.

The agreement was signed by Eng Salim bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals (MoEM), and Dr Bader bin Saud al Kharusi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Minerals Development Oman. The project will employ advanced technologies for natural evaporation, washing and refining operations, enhancing efficiency and sustainability.

Construction is scheduled to begin early next year, with the development phase extending over four years in partnership with a foreign investor. The project is expected to stimulate related industries, including the production of bromine, caustic soda, soda ash and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These materials are critical for sectors such as chemicals, plastics, water treatment, energy and construction.

Eng Salim al Aufi highlighted the ministry's efforts in expanding the mining sector, emphasising that several concession agreements targeting key ores such as copper, chromium, and silica have already been signed this year. He noted that the salt extraction project would support local and global markets while promoting transformation industries linked to oil and gas sectors.

“The project integrates sustainable technologies, including solar energy, to enhance energy efficiency, reflecting the Ministry’s vision of developing the mining sector as a pillar of the national economy,” Al Aufi said.

Dr Badar al Kharusi described the agreement as a milestone in diversifying Oman’s mineral sector investments. He stated: “This concession deal opens new horizons for promising markets, boosting Omani exports and attracting foreign investments, particularly in salt processing industries.”

He added that the project is the result of three years of exploration, prospecting and chemical studies, confirming the viability of salt extraction in the concession area. The project’s development is expected to strengthen Oman’s position in the global minerals sector and contribute to the country’s economic diversification efforts.