Muscat: The Public Authority for Mining (PAM) issued a total of 291 licenses for conducting mineral exploration operations in 2018.
Mineral resources available in the Sultanate include chromite, dolomite, zinc, limestone, gypsum, silica, copper, gold, cobalt, iron, and so on.
According to experts, mining sector has been identified as a promising industry to support the country’s economic diversification. “GDP contribution from mining this year alone is 15% higher than the contribution last year,” said an official from PAM.
Last year, Tanfeedh — The National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification produced more than 43 initiatives and projects involving investments to the tune of RO 813 million, with the lion’s share coming from the private sector.
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The initiatives and projects are expected to increase the sector’s contribution to GDP by three-fold, and provide more than 1,600 direct jobs to Omanis, while increasing the country’s mineral production to 147 million tonnes in 2023.
