Oman opens three fresh concession blocks covering 2,062 sq km

what happened

Oman's Ministry of Energy and Minerals has put three new blocks for mineral development on offer, spanning 2,062 square kilometres in total, Reuters reports. The move was announced at the International Mining and Resources Conference and Expo in Sydney, where the ministry and six sector companies presented the sultanate's geological potential to investors.

Area 25-C covers 627 square kilometres, and preliminary data point to possible manganese, nickel and laterite deposits. Area 25-F, at 830 square kilometres, shows similar potential, while Area 22-C, at 605 square kilometres, has signs of copper, chromite and gold, along with marble and basalt. Companies can carry out surveys and resource assessments, with any mine dependent on later technical and economic studies.

Authorities also plan to simplify procedures, improve the regulatory climate and expand digital services. Undersecretary Mohsin Hamad Al Hadhrami said the sector should move beyond extraction toward a fuller mining industry. Applications and terms are handled through the Taqa digital platform. Mining revenues rose 39 per cent in 2025 from 2024.

why it matters

For copper, gold and nickel markets the news is mostly a long-term story, since the new areas are still at the exploration stage and reaching production takes years. Still, growing interest in Omani ground could draw capital into regional projects, and the planned Mazoon Copper Mine is expected to support future copper output.

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