Oman ships first copper in 30 years

Muscat: This marks the Sultanate’s return to copper exports after a three-decade hiatus, reaffirming its commitment to economic diversification and sustainability.

Under the patronage of His Excellency Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al Kindi, Governor of North Al Batinah, the ceremony saw industry leaders and officials gather to mark this significant achievement. The inaugural shipment of 900 tons of high-quality copper concentrates was exported through Sohar Port, with concentrations ranging from 18% to 22%.
Eng. Matar bin Salem Al Badi, CEO of OMDC, hailed the achievement as a testament to the company’s ability to overcome challenges and drive growth. “We are pleased to be part of the mining history in this important region, which has had a historical and archaeological presence in copper mining for three thousand years. The region was distinguished by copper mining through the Oman Mining Company, which has been a pioneer in copper mining since 1983. Today, we celebrate the export of a shipment of copper concentrates from the Aseel mine, continuing this rich history,” he said.

OMDC’s long-term vision includes the reopening of the Al Bayda mine in Liwa by 2025-2026, with reserves estimated at 2.78 million tons of copper ore. The integrated redevelopment of Al Aseel and Al Bayda mines is expected to sustain operations for four to five years in its first phase, with ongoing exploration aimed at increasing reserves.

The mining sector has seen remarkable progress in exploration and extraction, enabling Oman to assert its presence in the global copper market. Projects like the Mazoon Copper Project further solidify OMDC’s leadership and commitment to innovation and sustainability.