Oman signs deal for industrial salt production

Minerals Development Oman has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Dev Salt to implement the Naqaa Salt Project in the Wilayat of Mahout in Al Wusta Governorate. The project will have an annual production capacity of two million tonnes, with an estimated  investment of 13.4 million Omani Rials.

Construction is expected to begin in the middle of this year and will take between 10 to 12 months. The project’s location near Duqm Port will support exports to global markets.

The agreement was signed at the “Invest in Oman” Hall by Matar Albadi, CEO of Minerals Development Oman, and Hirendrasinh Jhala, Chairman of Dev Global, in the presence of Ibtisam Alfarooji, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MOCIIP).

Undersecretary Alfarooji said that the partnership represents a practical model of effective integration between the public and private sectors. She noted that the project will contribute to the development of mineral resources and will support economic diversification by encouraging sustainable investments based on clean energy.

She added that the project also aligns with the goals of the “Invest in Oman” initiative, which aims to attract high-quality investments and strengthen strategic partnerships in sectors with added value—most notably the mining sector, a key contributor to the national economy.

The CEO of Minerals Development Oman stated that the project is the largest of its kind in the region and offers an advanced environmental model that promotes the use of clean energy in the mining sector. He added that the project reflects the company’s commitment to developing sustainable ventures with long-term economic and environmental impact.

The Chairman of Dev Global noted that this ambitious project marks a significant step forward in industrial salt production in the region, enhancing the capacity to meet the needs of both local and international markets.

Estimates indicate that global demand for salt will exceed 372 million tonnes by 2027, with annual growth of more than 2 %.

The project also creates added environmental value, as its evaporation ponds provide a natural habitat that attracts migratory birds and marine life.