Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals has offered three new mining concession areas with a combined area of 2,062 square kilometers to local and international investors, the state-run Oman News Agency reported on Tuesday.
The ministry launched the areas at the International Mining and Resources Conference and Exhibition (IMARC), a three-day event that opened in Sydney, Australia. Six companies from Oman’s minerals sector are taking part alongside the ministry.
Concession Area 25-C covers 627 square kilometers. Preliminary geological data point to possible manganese, nickel and laterite ores.
Concession Area 25-F covers 830 square kilometers, with manganese, nickel and laterite also listed as its main potential ores.
Concession Area 22-C covers 605 square kilometers and shows geological indicators of copper, chromite and gold, as well as marble and basalt.
Qualified companies will be able to run exploration programs, geological surveys and mineral resource assessments in the three areas. Any future mining projects will depend on the results of technical and economic studies, the ministry said.
Mohsen bin Hamad Al Hadhrami, undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said the participation reflected Oman’s aim to raise the minerals sector’s contribution to economic diversification and to move from exploration and extraction toward an integrated mining industry.
He called on international companies and investors to explore the opportunities and to build long-term partnerships. The ministry is also working to streamline procedures and expand digital services so projects can move more quickly from exploration to production, he said.
Oman’s mineral resources include copper, chromium, gold, nickel, manganese, zinc and lead, as well as gypsum, limestone, dolomite, marble and silica, according to the ministry.
