Latest news with #Vision2040
Muscat Daily
10 hours ago
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Incubator focused on youth-led community initiatives launched
Sur – Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth launched the 2025 Youth Initiatives Incubator in Jalan Bani Bu Ali, South Sharqiyah on Tuesday as part of its continued focus on youth-led community initiatives. The incubator targets young social entrepreneurs from across Oman leading non-profit projects designed to benefit local communities. It includes structured training sessions on project design, planning, resource mobilisation, partnership building and measuring social impact. Participants will be exposed to new development frameworks and tools aimed at enhancing their leadership skills and improving execution of their initiatives. The incubator will feature a mix of hands-on training, simulation events and field visits to promote collaboration and knowledge exchange among youth leaders. According to the ministry, the incubator will play a key role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of youth-led community efforts and support the broader objectives of Vision 2040, which positions young people as central to Oman's national development agenda.
Muscat Daily
10 hours ago
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Dhofar invests RO36mn in road development to spur urban growth
Salalah – Dhofar Municipality is pressing ahead with a package of infrastructure projects aimed at upgrading internal and dual carriageways across the governorate. More than 300km of roads are being constructed and paved, at a total cost exceeding RO36mn, in line with Oman Vision 2040 priorities of sustainable development. Covering several wilayats, the projects fall under the Sustainable Governorates and Cities Development Programme and are designed to ease mobility, improve safety, and support urban and economic expansion by enhancing the quality of road services for citizens, residents and visitors. According to officials, construction and paving works have been completed or are ongoing in Salalah, Taqah, Mirbat, Sadah, Shaleem and Hallaniyat Islands, Thumrait, Muqshin, Al Mazyouna, Rakhyut and Dalkhut. The projects follow technical and safety standards, with emphasis on long-term infrastructure sustainability. Ahmed bin Mohsen al Ghassani, Chairman of Dhofar Municipality, said Salalah alone is seeing the development of 161km of internal roads, including in plains and mountainous areas, at a cost exceeding RO9mn. He confirmed the municipality is also working on dualisation of 9km of Sultan Qaboos Street, currently 22% complete, at a cost of RO16.3mn. In Thumrait, the municipality will pave 40km of internal roads and begin dualisation of a 4.5km stretch of Thumrait Street, which will include decorative lighting. The combined value of the two projects is estimated at over RO3mn. In Taqah, work has started on 32km of internal roads at a cost of approximately RO1.7mn, while Mirbat will see 20km of roads paved at a cost of RO995,000. Dualisation of 3.5km of Mirbat Street is also expected to be completed this year at a cost of RO1.96mn. The municipality is undertaking road construction across several other wilayats. These include 50km of roads in Sadah and 15km of roads in Muqshin. Ghassani said the infrastructure expansion reflects the government's commitment to development projects that directly improve citizens' lives and ensure balanced growth across the governorate. He added that Dhofar Municipality continues to follow a proactive approach, working closely with local communities to tailor services and ensure effectiveness of municipal development plans.
Observer
10 hours ago
- Business
- Observer
Mining sector grows with 26 new licences
MUSCAT, JULY 15 In a landmark year for Oman's minerals sector, the Ministry of Energy and Minerals issued 26 new mining licences in 2024 and celebrated the start of commercial copper exports, marking a major step forward in the Sultanate's efforts to diversify its economy under the Vision 2040 framework. According to the Ministry's annual report for 2024, the government granted 14 permanent mining licences and 12 exploration licences, with approvals spread across strategic governorates including Dhofar, Al Wusta, North Al Sharqiyah, Al Batinah, and Al Dhahirah. These licences covered a broad array of resources such as gypsum, limestone, chromite, copper, iron ore, marble, and various construction materials. The Ministry also renewed 10 mining licences and one exploration licence, helping ensure continuity for active operations while opening doors for new entrants to the market. The year also saw major developments in copper mining, with two strategic projects beginning production and exports. In Al Khaboura, the Al Ghuzayn Copper Project entered commercial operation in 2024, with an initial investment of RO 43 million. The project, developed by Mawarid Mining, aims to extract six million tonnes of copper ore over six and a half years. In addition to producing and exporting its first copper shipments, the company issued sales invoices and official export certificates, solidifying Oman's re-entry into the global copper market. The project is also expected to generate 50 direct jobs for Omani nationals and allocate one per cent of its annual output to support local community development, in line with the provisions of Oman's Mineral Wealth Law. Meanwhile, in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi, the Wash-hi Copper Project achieved a significant milestone with the commencement of copper concentrate exports. The site holds an estimated 16 million tonnes of reserves and is capable of producing high-quality copper concentrate with a purity of 24 per cent. Officials hailed the development as a strong signal of growing investor confidence in Oman's mineral resource potential, particularly in base metals. Despite facing challenges linked to production reporting delays from several operators, Oman's overall mineral output for 2024 remained substantial. Total mineral ore production stood at 67.7 million tonnes, down 14 per cent compared to the previous year. Of this, 62.5 million tonnes were sold, generating revenues of RO 114.3 million. Exported volumes reached 35.9 million tonnes, with gypsum accounting for the largest share at 12.4 million tonnes, or 35 per cent of total exports. Limestone exports rose sharply by 49 per cent to 7.4 million tonnes, while the export of raw construction materials dropped by 39 per cent. Significantly, 2024 marked the first commercial copper exports from Oman, with 24,000 tonnes shipped to international markets. In tandem with licensing efforts, the Ministry also concluded several long-term concession agreements during the year to facilitate industrial-scale mining development. Among the key signings were Area 22-D in North Al Sharqiyah, which was awarded to Al Tamman Indsil Ferrochrome Company; Area 51-K, granted to Naqa Salt Company; and Area 11-A, signed with Al Tasnim Gulf Potash. These agreements support Oman's aim of attracting responsible investment in mineral development while fostering the downstream processing and value-added industries required to localise production chains. By the end of 2024, ten companies were operating across 21 designated mining concession areas in the Sultanate. These blocks contain commercially viable reserves of copper, chrome, laterite, potash, dolomite, gypsum, limestone, nickel, and cobalt. The Ministry is continuing to promote digital transformation in the sector and has launched an online bidding platform to enable transparent access to mineral blocks and facilitate the evaluation of applications by potential investors. In terms of human capital, the mining sector employed 3,942 workers during 2024, including 890 Omani nationals. This translates into an Omanisation rate of 23 per cent. The Ministry has signalled its intention to raise this figure by enhancing workforce development and supporting national capacity-building initiatives in mining engineering, geology, and environmental management.
Observer
10 hours ago
- Observer
Refrain from driving over green plains
Salalah, July 15 The Public Prosecution has issued a firm warning to citizens and tourists, urging people to refrain from driving vehicles over the green plains and meadows of Dhofar Governorate during khareef season. The act is deemed a legal offence and is punishable under Article (4) of Local Order No (2/2016), which regulates vehicle movement and public parking in the region. Authorities say off-road driving across grasslands and mountainous green areas damages fragile vegetation and disturbs the governorate's ecological balance. In a recent public advisory, the Public Prosecution highlighted the environmental consequences of such behaviour and emphasised the need for compliance with local laws to preserve Dhofar's natural heritage. Local residents have echoed support for stronger environmental protections. Salem bin Nasser al Maashani, a citizen from Salalah, said: 'We ask visitors to respect Dhofar's environment. This greenery is a rare and temporary national treasure that must be safeguarded by everyone.' Younis bin Issa al Balushi, a visitor from Muscat, welcomed the awareness campaign. 'I wasn't aware that driving on the plains is prohibited,' he said. 'Now, with these messages, we better understand the rules and the importance of abiding by them.' Officials confirmed that Dhofar Municipality, in coordination with the Public Prosecution and environmental agencies, will intensify field inspections and awareness campaigns across media platforms throughout the season. These measures are part of Oman's broader sustainability goals under Vision 2040, which prioritises the conservation of natural ecosystems and the promotion of responsible, eco-friendly tourism.
Observer
a day ago
- General
- Observer
4 Million tree seeds scattered in Dhofar
SALALAH: A major environmental campaign has been launched in Dhofar Governorate to scatter and plant four million seeds of native Omani trees, reinforcing national efforts to restore vegetation, combat desertification, and preserve biodiversity. The initiative—led by the Environment Authority in collaboration with Dhofar Municipality, OQ, OQ Bioplastics (OQBi), and the 'Wa'i' Awareness Initiative—targets mountainous areas across the wilayats of Salalah, Mirbat, Taqah, Rakhyut, and Dalkut. The campaign will run through 24 July. Now in its fifth consecutive year, the campaign is aligned with Oman's National Initiative to Plant 10 Million Trees, a flagship programme supporting Vision 2040 and the Sultanate's long-term sustainability agenda. Eng. Zahran bin Ahmed Al Abdul Salam, Director General of Environment in Dhofar Governorate, highlighted the strategic timing of the campaign ahead of the Khareef (monsoon) season. 'The heavy rains and persistent fog during autumn create ideal conditions for seed germination and early root development,' he said. 'Planting before the season begins significantly improves the survival rate and allows seedlings to establish resilient root systems.' He added that these well-rooted native plants also stabilise the soil, prevent erosion caused by rainfall and wind, and contribute to soil fertility—an essential factor in reversing desertification and sustaining local ecosystems. The campaign focuses on native tree species known for their resilience and ecological value in Oman, including Sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi), Sagout, Kelit, Warar, Sabar (cactus varieties), and wild fig. These trees are traditionally valued for their environmental, medicinal, and pastoral benefits. In 2024, a similar campaign successfully scattered more than four million seeds in areas including Sadah, Mirbat, and the Jabal Samhan Nature Reserve. That phase featured species such as Frankincense (Boswellia sacra), Samar, Ghaf (Prosopis cineraria), and Arabian Comb (Maerua crassifolia). Seeds were meticulously collected during natural flowering periods, then treated and prepared in specialised facilities to ensure high germination rates. The campaign has mobilised wide participation from government bodies, private sector partners, and local communities, underscoring a growing collective commitment to ecological stewardship. Amid growing environmental challenges and climate pressures, Oman's model of large-scale native tree planting offers a replicable blueprint for arid regions. The Environment Authority plans to expand the initiative in future cycles, with a focus on community involvement, scientific monitoring, and integrated reforestation practices to maximise long-term environmental benefits.
