Omani state miner begins silica-sand production
23 September 2025
State-backed Minerals Development Oman (MDO) has announced the start of silica-sand production from its Block 51F concession in the sultanate.
Concession Block 51F is in the Wilayat of Mahout in Al-Wusta Governorate and covers 2,156 square kilometres (sq km).
The block is estimated to contain about 47 million tonnes of silica, limestone and dolomite.
The production site covers approximately 5 sq km within Block 51F. MDO, which was awarded concession rights for Block 51F by Oman’s Ministry of Energy & Minerals (MEMR) in October last year, will act as the resource owner and overall project supervisor.
MDO has appointed Muscat-based The Earth Sciences Consultancy Centre to oversee operations and development of the silica-sand project, including investment and production management.
According to the project development plan approved by the MEMR, initial production capacity is projected at 100,000 tonnes a year (t/y), with a purity level of about 98%.
The initial focus will be on producing and supplying raw silica to local and regional markets to meet growing demand and reduce import dependency, the Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.
Future developments will include establishing a primary silica-processing facility to improve product quality and attract high-tech industries such as semiconductors, glass manufacturing, chemical processing and metallurgical applications, ONA added.
ALSO READ: Oman floats minerals trading company
Silica is a vital raw material for several industries and is used in the production of glass, display screens, semiconductors and advanced materials for solar power and energy storage.
MDO is a subsidiary of the sultanate’s sovereign wealth institution, the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), and was established in 2017. In addition to Block 51F, the company holds concession rights for nearby Block 51K in Al-Wusta Governorate.
MDO began work on the Naqa Salt project in Block 51K last year. Spread across 109 sq km within the 51K concession, the Naqa Salt facility will have an output capacity of up to 2 million t/y. The site is also in the Wilayat of Mahout, near the port of Duqm.
MDO will invest approximately $35m in the project, which it says will produce salt with up to 99% purity.
In May, MDO signed an agreement with India-based Dev Salt to partner on the Naqa Salt project. The company did not specify the nature or terms of the agreement; it is understood to be an offtake agreement for future production.
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The request for qualifications (RFQs) was issued by the municipality’s Sewerage and Recycled Water Projects Department (SRPD).
The bid submission deadline is 26 February.
The first scheme under the package is TF-16-C1, which involves upgrading and rehabilitating the stormwater system east of the Dubai Canal.
The second, TF-15-C2, will deliver stormwater links along Umm Suqeim Road to serve the Al-Barsha and Al-Quoz communities.
The third project, TF-13-C1, focuses on developing a drainage system for the Al-Marmum area.
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In January, local firm DeTech Contracting won the main contract to construct a stormwater drainage system in Jebel Ali.
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Separately, Dubai Municipality has opened bidding for EPC contracts to expand and rehabilitate the emirate’s sewerage networks.
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Modon tenders Ras El-Hekma construction contracts
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Abu Dhabi-based developer Modon Holding has tendered several contracts as part of the first phase of development at Ras El-Hekma, a planned new city on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.
MEED understands that the tenders were issued in January.
These include:
DP3 assets: covering 146 residential villas, 590 three-bedroom townhouses, 356 four-bedroom townhouses, a mall and other associated works.
Bids due on 23 February.
DP4 assets: DP4 includes 54 villas, a clubhouse and other associated infrastructure.
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DP7 assets: 120 five-bedroom villas, 230 seven-bedroom villas, 284 branded residential units and other infrastructural works.
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Modon has accelerated development works at Ras El-Hekma this year. In January, MEED reported that Modon Holding had awarded a E£15bn ($316m) contract for the construction of a project at Ras El-Hekma.
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The scope of the contract covers the construction of residential units, commercial facilities and a 70-key hotel.
In September, MEED reported that Modon Holding had tendered contracts for the infrastructure works for the first phase of the Ras El-Hekma project.
As part of the first phase, Modon plans to develop more than 50 million square metres (sq m), including hotels and a marina.
Ras El-Hekma is on a spur of land on Egypt’s northern Mediterranean coastline, about 240 kilometres west of Alexandria.
Last year, Abu Dhabi-based holding company ADQ appointed Modon Holding as the master developer for the Ras El-Hekma project.
According to an official statement, Modon will act as the master developer for the entire development, which will cover more than 170 million sq m.
Modon Holding will develop the first phase of the project, which will cover 50 million sq m.
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Commercial International Bank Egypt (CIB) has provided €58m in credit facilities to local firm Elsewedy Electric for the construction of a combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant in Hungary.
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The signing ceremony was held at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority headquarters in Aqaba on 5 February.
The agreement was signed by Hussein Safadi, CEO of ADC, and Ahmed Al-Mutawa, regional CEO of AD Ports Group.
Aqaba port handles about 80% of Jordan’s exports and 65% of its imports.
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In 2025, the terminal handled over 5.3 million tonnes of cargo and nearly 85,000 car equivalent units of Ro-Ro imports.
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The announcement followed AD Ports Group’s signing of a shareholders’ agreement in January 2024 between its digital arm, Maqta Gateway, and Jordan’s Aqaba Development Corporation regarding their existing joint-venture company, Maqta Ayla.
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Chinese firm wins Ceer automotive supplier park deal
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Beijing-headquartered Metallurgical Construction Corporation (MCC) has won a contract to undertake the steel structure works on the Ceer automotive supplier park in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).
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