Mining

Safeguarding Oman’s mineral wealth is a new Mineral Resources Law.

End of June 2022, mining and quarrying contributed US$308 million to GDP an increase of 28.4% on the same period in 2021.

33,767 Omanis were employed in the mining and quarrying sector October 2022, an increase of 14.9% on the same period in 2021.

In December 2022, 12 Royal Decrees were issued ratifying mining concession agreements granting Minerals Development Oman 12 concession areas covering 21,480 km2 from exploration to mining.

In terms of non-metallic minerals, Oman has an abundance of dolomite, limestone, gypsum, clay, silica, ornamental stones and building materials, resources

Main copper reserves, with an estimated exploration resource of around 54.5m MT, are located in the Suhar area of the Al Batinah region. Gold, gabbro and limestone are also found in this area.

Large-scale copper mining is set to start with the Al Hadeetha Resources project at Washihi-Mazzaza. This targets copper ore sales of 16 million MT per annum and the eventual construction of a 1 million MT per annum copper concentration plant with an initial 10-year mine life.

Gypsum reserves in the Dhofar region are estimated at 170 million MT.

Duqm, in central Oman, holds substantial reserves of industrial minerals and salt.Oman is looking to develop opportunities using our rich mix of natural resources, particularly in petrochemicals, construction, marble, gypsum, building products, minerals, as well as food and beverage.

Total mining production of 26 million MT in 2018 is set to rise to 147 million MT by 2023.

It is estimated that the mining sector will contribute US$779 million to GDP by 2030.