Oman awards $1bn marine salt mining contracts to SMEs

Oman has awarded four marine salt mining contracts worth about $1 billion to local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in a push to develop downstream industries and broaden the sultanate’s economy beyond hydrocarbons.

The projects, awarded by state-owned Minerals Development Oman (MDO) in central Oman, are expected to produce about 5 million tonnes of salt a year, officials told AGBI.

“We are helping the local SMEs and at the same time taking advantage of the Al Wusta, which has the longest coastline in the country,” Saud Al Mahrouqi, director general of minerals at the ministry of energy and minerals, said.

In 2025, Oman’s salt production reached approximately 40,000 tonnes. About 30,000 tonnes was exported to international markets, Al Mahrouqi said.

Al Wusta is home to six other salt mining concession areas supporting the downstream industries at the Duqm free zone, which is located in the region.

“We want SMEs to be a part of mineral mining to help them expand their businesses and help create jobs,” said Mahad Baawain, minister of manpower.

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Last year the state’s sovereign fund, the Oman Investment Authority, launched a $5.2 billion fund to encourage more investment in local SMEs as the country seeks to capitalise on growth in support for startup businesses.

This is the latest concession Oman has awarded in the mining sector.

MDO operates 14 concession areas across Oman and has found almost 500,000 tonnes of chromite, 111 million tonnes of high-purity silica and 242 million tonnes of dolomite.