ammonnews.net

Ammon News - Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources on Thursday signed two memorandums of understanding with Oman's Al Tasnim Enterprises to explore phosphate ores in Risha region and rock potash ores in Lasan area adjacent to the Dead Sea.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Saleh Kharabsheh, and Al Tasnim Enterprises CEO, Mohit Khimji, signed the two memos.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Kharabsheh said the memo to explore phosphate in Risha region, which lasts for two and a half years, allows the Omani company to carry out operations in an area of 300 square kilometers by conducting exploratory studies, exploring ore and assessing economic feasibility.

Kharabsheh noted this effort aims to establishing transformational industries that do not exist in the Kingdom and launching food and pharmaceutical industries based on phosphate ore.

With regard to the three-and-a-half-year memo to explore and assess rock potash ores in Lasan area, Kharabsheh said Al Tasnim Enterprises is mandated to conduct exploration operations on a land of 34 square kilometers by evaluating ore reserves and conducting exploratory studies in the region.

Kharabsheh added that signing the memo is part of the national mining program within framework of the ministry's efforts to restore momentum to the Kingdom's mining sector in the field of strategic ores and minerals.

This step, he noted, is also in accordance with recommendations of the Economic Modernization Vision (EMV), which affirmed mining sector as having "high industrial value.

The minister said work is underway to double this sector's contribution to the gross domestic product by three times, and quadruple the value of exports based on the hoped-for outcomes made reached so far.

On future plans, he noted the ministry's policy aimed at preventing export of phosphate production in Risha region in the crude form and exploiting reserves in manufacturing and chemical industries in areas that are rich with mineral ores.

He noted this scheme also seeks to increase feasibility of this large national project, and expand job opportunities, which would contribute to efforts to achieve sustainable development.

Kharabsheh noted the ministry is working in cooperation with the Ministry of Investment to promote investment opportunities in Jordan's mining sector, and collect information about the available ore reserves in the Kingdom's various regions, in an effort to attract investments to this sector.