Pre-feasibility study for Oman fertilizer project under way

Pre-feasibility studies are under way aimed at assessing the viability of establishing a commercial-scale fertilizer project in the Sultanate utilising potentially substantive potash deposits in the Umm al Samim region of western Oman.

The project, involving a potential capital investment of around $300 million, is being spearheaded by Gulf Mining Group, one of Oman’s largest mining and mineral processing corporations.

In its sights is a deposit holding estimated reserves in excess of 40 million tonnes of potassium chloride, a key ingredient in the production of Sulphate of Potash (SOP) — a high quality potash fertilizer commonly used in the cultivation of high-value crops such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, tea, coffee and tobacco.

As a first step in the exploitation of this resource and its conversion into potash fertilizer, Gulf Mining Group has already applied for an exploration mining licence, which is “under final approval”, according to key officials of the privately owned company.

Studies conducted by Gulf Mining have uncovered evidence of prodigious quantities of potassium chloride contained in near surface brine in Umm al Samim not far from the Oman’s border with Saudi Arabia. Extraction is envisaged using hydro-geological pumping techniques.