Oman Mining Expo Taps Investment Opportunities In The Sector

The Oman government’s Vision 2040, which identifies mining as one of the focus sectors for enhancing competitiveness and growth, promises much potential for the sector, boding well for this developing industry. The strategy, along with recent discoveries of substantial amounts of mineral deposits and the large-scale projects underway in Oman offers numerous opportunities for investment in mineral development, mining and quarrying exploration and operations.  

Oman Mining Expo, organized by sector regulator Public Authority for Mining (PAM) and trade exhibitions and conferences organizer Omanexpo, taps these emerging opportunities by providing an annual international platform to showcase current industrial projects that will attract local and international mining firms to invest in the Sultanate.

From the 15^th to the 17^th of April at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, the third edition of Oman’s landmark industry event and the Middle East’s leading mining show, will open its doors to the industry with a showcase of mining-related exhibits and services from the biggest mining companies in Oman and the region. Highlighting the exhibition are the country pavilions of China, Germany, India, Iran and Turkey. 

In keeping with previous editions, the organizers are bringing in a high-level conference focusing on the growth strategies in the sector; new mining laws and regulations; case studies on Saudi Arabia and South Africa’s mining industries; project financing and investment opportunities in Oman; digital and innovative technologies in mining; sustainable development, and other noteworthy topics. These will be presented by highly qualified speakers that include HE Eng. Hilal Al Busaidi, CEO, PAM; Dr. Ali Al Rajhi, Director General of Research and Geological Surveys, PAM; and Jeff Doebrich, Chief, Africa and the Middle East, United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Adding value is a workshop on the treatment and recycling of waste from mining activities, organized by the Arab Industrial Development on Mining, and which will culminate the two-day formal conference. 

Indrajeet Kumar, Exhibition Director, Omanexpo, says “Oman Mining Expo is our way of contributing to the sustainable growth path for the mining industry in Oman. This comes on the heels of the government’s recent reforms and new legislation that will increase value addition and build Oman’s domestic minerals value chain. We are pleased to see thatthe industry is moving in a positive direction.”

For the second time this year Bedrock Mineral Resource Consulting (BMRC), a full-service mining consultancy company, participates as the main sponsor, further enhancing its role as an exhibitor and providing a valuable boost to the event.

Ravi Sharma, Managing Director, BMRC, says “Our participation at Oman Mining Expo is geared towards extending a helping hand to Oman’s mining industry. Oman’s mineral wealth represents bright prospects for the industry, and we want to bring our know-how to the Oman mining landscape organically and aim to be one of the catalysts that places Oman as a prominent presence in the mining world.”

Other top names in the sector-Minerals Development Oman (MDO), Gulf Mining Materials Company, Port of Duqm, Weir Minerals, Port of Salalah and Oman Shipping Company-are providing solid support as Strategic Partner, Diamond Sponsor, Silver Sponsor, Lanyard Sponsor and Shipping Partner, respectively.

Keen interest and enthusiastic response to the event remains driven by the government’s plans to focus on mining as one of the key pillars of its non-oil economic diversification and the big-ticket projects such as rail networks, mineral processing and refining facilities in the Port of Duqm’s industrial zone mining cluster, and port expansion projects.