Energy forum reviews investment opportunities, means to enhance community partnership

Business Thursday 19/September/2024 16:53 PM
By: ONA
Energy forum reviews investment opportunities, means to enhance community partnership

Salalah: The Ministry of Energy and Minerals today organized a forum in Dhofar Governorate to review investment opportunities, current and future projects and ways to enhance community partnership with local companies.

The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of HH Sayyid Marwan Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar.

The forum discussed the latest developments in the sectors of oil, gas, renewable energy and green hydrogen. It looked into ways to optimize the use of mineral resources in the Sultanate of Oman and the challenges facing the energy and minerals sectors.

In a speech at the forum, Mohsin Hamad Al Hadhrami, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, expressed the Ministry’s keenness to develop the energy and minerals sector in a manner that achieves optimal use of natural resources and achieves health, occupational and ecological safety.

Speaking about the Ministry's achievements in the oil and gas sectors, Al Hadhrami said that the average daily oil production stood at 1.05 million barrels, while gas production saw a 4 percent rise to 142.5 million cubic metres per day.

He added that the minerals sector experienced good growth in production and sales, notably in Dhofar Governorate, which, he explained, produced more than 13 million tons of limestone. During 2024, more than 11 million tons of gypsum were exported, he said.

The forum included three visual presentations that focused on major projects and developments in vital sectors.

Eng. Saud Khamis Al Mahrouqi, Director General of Minerals, gave a detailed presentation on efforts made to enhance the exploitation of mineral resources in the Sultanate of Oman.

Al Mahrouqi pointed out that Dhofar Governorate boasts a wealth of limestone and gypsum and that gypsum exports alone amounted to 11 million tons during 2023, compared to 9 million tons in 2022. This, he observed, enhances the Sultanate of Oman’s position as one of the most prominent global suppliers of raw materials.