Mining and quarrying is one of the most promising industrial sectors in the Sultanate of Oman, given the country’s diverse mineral resources, favourable geographical location and government incentives designed to encourage investment in this vital sector.

Gulf Mining Materials Company (GMM) is an Omani company operating in the mining and quarrying sector. Its efforts culminated in the establishment of a chromite processing plant in the Wilayat of Samail. With an investment of around OMR 2 million, it is one of the largest plants specialising in the processing and purification of chromite ore in Oman and the region. The new expansion of the plant opened in early July, 2026.

Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Hadi, Chairman of Gulf Mining Materials Company and its subsidiaries, explained that the chromite processing plant project aims to increase the added value of Oman’s mineral resources and strengthen the sector’s contribution to diversifying national income. The plant raises the purity of chromite ore from around 10% to 40%, which is considered high according to specialised industrial standards.

In a statement to Oman News Agency, he added that the plant’s current production capacity allows it to process around 25,000 tonnes of low grade chromite ore each month, producing approximately 10,000 tonnes of high grade ore.

He said the company plans to carry out a further expansion early next year to increase the plant’s processing capacity to between 60,000 and 100,000 tonnes of ore per month. This will enable it to produce more than 35,000 tonnes of high grade chromite each month.

The GMM Chairman explained that the plant’s entire output will be used to meet the requirements of the ferrochrome plant in the Wilayat of Sohar, which is operated by Gulf Mineral Materials Company and Gulf Chrome Alloy Mining Company. This will strengthen industrial integration between the company’s projects, create new opportunities for small and medium enterprises to secure service and logistics contracts, and provide direct and indirect employment opportunities for Omani citizens.

He noted that the addition of a specialised Chinese strategic partner had strengthened the production capacity of the ferrochrome plant in Sohar. Its output increased from around 3,000 tonnes to 7,500 tonnes of ferrochrome alloys.

He said the project’s economic and social impact includes increasing Oman’s exports of ferrochrome alloys to Asian and European markets and supporting local supply chains. It currently provides contracting opportunities for nearly 100 small and medium enterprises.

The company has also developed a plan to employ 100 jobseekers from areas close to its operating sites in the Wilayats of Samail and Sohar during the next phases of expansion.