Oman has the potential to be a world leader in the minerals processing industry. They recognized and acted on that potential with the support of all of their stakeholders.
What makes Oman so important is not only its strategic location between resource-rich nations and world consumers, or its great ports and world-class infrastructure and low energy costs but also the understanding and appreciation of the metals and minerals business, from manufacturing to trading. The world minerals industry is changing. Large and very expensive mineral processing facilities now are being sited where capital and costs dictate rather than geology. Oman can become a world hub for value-added mineral processing not only in antimony, the world’s most critical metal, and in gold but many other minerals and products that are not always linked to just cheap energy. There is no reason to prevent Oman mineral processing becoming a major diversification industry and a major, high-value employment sector for many years to come.
With this in mind, they have a desire and vision to establish a center of excellence for the training, education and technology development for this industry. SPMP will establish a qualified Scholarship program for Omani graduates to train overseas in the mining, mineral processing and commodity finance and commodity trading. Their vision is to have Oman as strong in these sectors as it is in the energy sectors in the future and provide a real diversification and lasting wealth for the youth of Oman.
