Expo taps opportunities in Oman's mining sector

Muscat: 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 large-scale projects underway in Oman, offers numerous opportunities for investments in mineral development, mining and quarrying exploration and operations.
Oman Mining Expo, organised by sector regulator Public Authority for Mining (PAM) and trade exhibitions and conferences organiser 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 April 15 to April 17 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 by showcasing 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 organisers 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 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, organised by the Arab Industrial Development on Mining, and which will culminate the two-day formal conference.
Indrajeet Kumar, Exhibition Director, Omanexpo, said, “The 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 that the industry is moving in a positive direction.”
For the second time this year, Bedrock Mineral Resource Consulting (BMRC), a full-service mining consultancy company, will participate as the main sponsor, further enhancing its role as an exhibitor and providing a valuable boost to the event.
Ravi Sharma, Managing Director, BMRC, said, “Our participation in the 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 knowhow to the Oman mining landscape organically and aim to be one of the catalysts that places Oman at a prominent spot 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 also providing support as Strategic Partner, Diamond Sponsor, Silver Sponsor, Lanyard Sponsor and Shipping Partner, respectively.
A keen interest and an 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 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.