Muscat: The mining sector in Al Buraimi Governorate is undergoing a tangible production surge exceeding 5.5 million tons in 2025, contributing to enhancing the governorate's standing as a promising logistical and mining hub within the targets of Oman Vision 2040 in economic diversification.
According to Oman News Agency, Eng. Salim Khamis Al Sudairi, Director of the Department of Minerals in Al Buraimi, A'Dhahirah, and Musandam Governorates, said that the governorate houses 21 active licensed quarries and crushers, pointing out that their total production during 2025 reached approximately 5.59 million tons.
Al Sudayri indicated that the building materials sector topped production with a total exceeding 4.67 million tons, followed by limestone at more than 859,000 tons, then chrome ore at about 33.8 thousand tons, then plastic clay at 15.5 thousand tons, in addition to more than 5.2 thousand tons of marble, and about 3.9 thousand tons of gypsum.
He explained that the logistical advantages enjoyed by the governorate and its proximity to border crossings contributed to securing building material supplies for vital projects, most notably the railway project between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to internal road projects, gas, water, electricity, and telecommunications lines, and the GCC interconnection grid project.
He noted that two mining concession areas were awarded in the governorate, which are in the exploration phase, while a third area is undergoing procedural completion. He pointed out that these areas will contribute to increasing production capacity in the future, alongside compliance with prohibiting the export of chrome ore containing a concentration of less than 36 percent, in addition to tasking Oman Mining Trading Company with managing and organizing trades.
Al Sudayri explained that offering new mining opportunities is conducted via the 'Taqa' platform according to a transparent bidding system, allowing an opportunity for fair competition among companies to explore and invest in metallic minerals, such as copper and chrome, in addition to public sites for industrial raw materials like marble and limestone.
Within the framework of environmental commitment and supervision, he clarified that the Ministry conducted 96 inspection visits during 2025 to verify technical requirements and curb emissions, with an emphasis on obligating companies to adhere to site rehabilitation plans and provide financial guarantees in cooperation with the Environment Authority.
He added that the Ministry attaches great importance to directing mining investments toward supporting the local community by encouraging the localization of technical and administrative jobs within operating companies and supporting community initiatives in the wilayats adjacent to mining sites.
Concluding his statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), Al Sudayiri affirmed that the mining sector contributes to enhancing in-country value by awarding transport, maintenance, and technical study services to small and medium enterprises, in parallel with the trend toward smart supervision and digital transformation to ensure the sustainability of mining resources.