AL RUSTAQ: South Al Batinah Governorate recorded 35 mining licences by the end of 2025, highlighting the growing importance of the minerals sector in supporting economic diversification and industrial development.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, 15 licences are currently operational, including 14 for building materials and one for chromium ore extraction.
Juma bin Khamis al Bakari, Director of the Minerals Department in North and South Al Batinah Governorates, said quarries and crushers are distributed across several wilayats based on geological formations and the availability of mineral resources. He noted that Nakhl has the largest concentration of quarries within the governorate.
Al Bakari said investment in quarries and crushers ranges from RO 500,000 to RO 20 million, depending on project size, resource type and operational requirements.
He added that the minerals sector contributes approximately 0.7 per cent to the governorate's gross domestic product, while ongoing exploration programmes continue to identify promising mineral deposits, particularly copper and chromium.
According to Al Bakari, the governorate offers attractive investment opportunities that align with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals' strategy to develop an integrated mining industry capable of competing regionally and internationally while adopting global best practices.
Of the 35 licences issued, 16 are currently in the process of closure following the depletion of mineral resources at the licensed sites. A further four licences have yet to commence operations and are located in the Wilayats of Rustaq and Nakhl.
He revealed that an exploration licence for copper ore was issued during 2026, while efforts are under way to complete procedures and coordinate with relevant authorities regarding 13 public sites designated to supply building materials across the governorate.
South Al Batinah is regarded as one of Oman's promising mining regions, with geological studies indicating the presence of commercially viable deposits of copper, chromium and other minerals. The sector is expected to play an increasingly important role in attracting investment, supporting industrial growth and maximising the value of the Sultanate of Oman's natural resources. — ONA
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