Workshop focuses on Oman's mining industry

Muscat: More than 50 members and guests attended a panel discussion hosted by the Australian Business Group Oman (ABGO) together with the event sponsor, WorleyParsons, held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on September 9, 2018.
The panel discussion, entitled "A new era for Oman’s mining industry?" outlined to the attendees some of the recent initiatives introduced by the Oman government to enable growth in the minerals and metals sector, some of the mining and processing projects under development, and how technology advancement and digital data management can help Oman’s mineral processing industry.
The panel speakers among others included Henri Antwi (Commercial and Technical Advisor) Minerals Development Oman; Justin Richard (CEO) Alara Resources; Brian Spratley (Technical Director) SPMP; and Gordon Cowe (Managing Director, Major Projects) WorleyParsons.
Chairman Susan Rae welcomed the guest of honour, Australian Honourary Consul Mustafa Ahmed Salman, as well as representatives of the local business community. She said, “Our panellists presented an exciting picture of the current state of mining in Oman, with many future developments heralded.”
Panellists commented on the benefits of the mining sector to Oman’s economy, with an increase of around 20 per cent year-on-year growth already reported this year. As one of the key directions under the Tanfeedh initiative, the mining sector is encouraging more Omanis to explore the opportunities it offers, particularly for geologists and mining engineers.