Omani mining company, Gulf Mining Materials Company, opened the country’s first chrome ore beneficiation plant this week at Wadi Mahram in the north east of Oman. When commissioned, the plant will have an intake capacity of 15,000 tonnes per month.
Gulf Mining’s own chromite mine is situated close to the plant although the company says it will also process ore from other mines. It is envisaged that the finished chrome concentrate will be exported principally to companies in China and India.
Gulf Mining began its chromite ore mining operations in 2006, although up to now it has exported its chromite in raw form. The company is also active in laterite quarrying with a laterite quarry at Barka which mines around 30,000 tonnes per month. This is exported to the nearby United Arab Emirates. Marble quarrying is expected to commence shortly.
The opening of the chrome ore beneficiation plant is part of the company’s plan to diversify into value added processes. The company also hopes to begin mining for copper ore, iron ore, kaolin and limestone, among other minerals.
Des Nogalski
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