Oman opens first copper mining waste recycling plant
Oman has inaugurated its first industrial plant dedicated to converting legacy copper mining waste into high-purity copper using renewable energy and eco-friendly technologies – a major step toward green industrialisation in line with Oman Vision 2040 goals.
Developed by Green Tech Mining and Services, the new facility in Suhar uses sustainable technologies to process legacy mining waste into copper cathodes. Using a closed-loop hydrometallurgical process, the facility reprocesses legacy mining waste without generating secondary effluents or relying on fossil fuels.
Copper cathodes produced at the facility will be classified as sustainably recycled metals, a key asset in the decarbonization of the copper supply chain. The facility will start production this month, with an initial output of 60 tonnes of copper cathodes per year. This capacity is expected to increase to 12,000 tonnes annually by December 2026.
Saleh bin Saeed Masan, Undersecretary for Commerce and Industry at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, said that the facility represents a “qualitative leap” in building an innovation-led and sustainable industrial sector. “This project is a practical example of clean technology in action, and a testament to the government’s commitment to integrating sustainability into industrial development.”
Reflecting on the milestone in Oman’s industrial sector, Anu Chaudhary, Partner and Global Head of ESG Consulting at Uniqus, said: “This project advances Oman’s Vision 2040 and Industrial Strategy 2040 by boosting value-added production, attracting high-tech investments and localizing industries that harness the country’s natural resources.”
“As Oman seeks to elevate its industrial competitiveness, reduce environmental impact, and create new value chains from existing resources, this new recycling plant offers a blueprint for scalable, environmentally responsible industrial growth, reinforcing the Sultanate’s position in the global transition to sustainable development,” Chaudhary added.
The plant has been developed through a partnership between BPG Group and Oman Mining Company, with direct support from Oman’s government. The official opening ceremony was held under the patronage of Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and attended by senior officials and industry representatives.
