Unique project launched in Oman to make use of silt from dam lakes

Khasab: Silt enters as a core material in a variety of industries, such as fertilizers, textiles and ceramics.

Recently, Arkan, a research establishment, launched an initiative codenamed “Ardak” or (your land/soil) to convert silt into an industrial product.

Accordingly, Arkan signed an agreement to the tune of OMR7 million with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources to utilise silt sediments deposited in the lakes of five dams in Oman, as a first stage of the project.

The first phase of the project was launched in April 2022 by utilising the silt gathered at five dams: at Wadi Al Jizzi Dam in the Wilayat of Sohar, Wadi Aahin in the Wilayat of Saham, Wadi Al Hawasna in the Wilayat of Al Khabourah, Wadi Mastal in the Wilayat of Nakhl and Wadi Dhaiqah in the Wilayat of Quraiyat, said Abdullah Mohammed Al Shihi, CEO of Ardak.

Investments of value-added projects are estimated to stand at OMR3 million.  They include innovative agricultural inputs, industrial projects and raw materials for the construction sector targeting the domestic, regional and international markets.

Ardak project will provide at least 29 direct employment opportunities for Omanis, in addition to another 70 indirect jobs over the first years of the initiative, according to the CEO of the project’s executing company, Ardak, which envisages further opportunities for small and medium enterprises.