ePlatform to help boost Oman’s mining sector

@conradprabhu -

Going digital: Mining portal to serve as centralised database offering complete information on mining blocks and mineral resources for the convenience of investors

An online platform serving as a portal for investors weighing opportunities in Oman’s promising mining sector is on the anvil.

Well-known international professional services firm EY has been roped in to assist in the initial groundwork aimed at establishing the proposed eMining Platform, according to a report by the Implementation Follow-up Unit of Oman Vision 2040. The high-powered unit is facilitating the requisite government approvals, and even legislative amendments where necessary, to accelerate the delivery of a number of strategic projects and initiatives imperative to Oman’s long-term economic growth.

At the heart of the eMining Platform initiative is a centralised database featuring, among other details, comprehensive information on the many mineral blocks offered by the Omani government for investors, the mineral potential of each block, and associated application procedures for license approvals.

“The aim of this initiative was to assess the e-readiness of the (Ministry of Energy and Minerals) to deliver government online services and develop a detailed scope of work for transforming the services by a consultant, then implementing it. The primary objective of implementing this initiative was to improve the delivery of government services and e-Services (in the Ministry) by streamlining government processes required to deliver the online services, and enabling customer-centric government e-Services for individuals and businesses,” said the Implementation Follow-up Unit in its latest report.

A Request for Proposals (RfP) for the eMining Platform initiative garnered a large number of offers, according to the report. However, following the transfer of the mining and minerals portfolio from the erstwhile Public Authority for Mining (PAM) to the restructured Ministry of Energy and Minerals, efforts to progress the initiative suffered some delay.

At the same time, authorities are working to simplify the licensing process governing mining exploration and production activities.

“This initiative aims to streamline the procedures that every investor goes through in order to obtain exploration and mining licences,” said the Implementation Follow-up Unit.

The process currently requires as many as eight different government ministries and agencies to give their respective approvals for any license application – a cumbersome system that does not bode well for Oman’s efforts to attract investors. The objective is to create a mechanism for investors to have their applications reviewed and approved via a single window / one stop arrangement.