Jordan signs deal with Manaseer Group to advance southern copper project

what happened

The ministry responsible for energy and minerals in Jordan has formalised an agreement with Manaseer Group for an underground copper venture in the country's south, Reuters reported. The document was signed on October 21, 2026 by Minister Saleh Al-Kharabsheh and Manaseer Group Chairman Ziad Al-Manaseer.

Preliminary exploration points to roughly 45 million tonnes of copper ore across about 78 square kilometres that spans the Wadi Khaled, Wadi Al-Nahhas, Wadi Al-Jariya and Wadi Al-Mahash areas. Average copper concentration, according to the ministry, is around 1.36 percent, with some samples above 3.5 percent. The ore may contain an estimated 500,000 to 600,000 tonnes of copper metal, though those figures still await technical verification.

Under the terms, the company must complete technical, economic and environmental studies, including checks on resources and reserves, estimates of recoverable quantities and capital spending needs. Extraction will be underground rather than open-pit, with processing plants and infrastructure placed outside the perimeter and access limited to a small number of tunnels. Environmental impact assessments and regulatory permits are required before any work begins. A subsidiary of the group, Jordan Integrated Mining and Exploration Company, first signed a memorandum with the ministry in June 2022. The government also targets Jordanian nationals for about 90 percent of jobs. No investment value, production capacity or construction timetable has been disclosed.

why it matters

For markets this is an early-stage resource story rather than near-term supply: no output volumes, capital costs or schedule have been announced, so current copper balances are unaffected. The key milestones will be the feasibility work and permits that could turn the 500,000 to 600,000 tonne estimate into a financeable project.

market impact

Copper: early-stage project with no near-term supply impact; a longer-term addition to resource pipelines

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