Khaberni - Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, carried out on Saturday an inspection tour of phosphate ore exploration projects at drilling and exploration sites in the Al-Buayijah area, south of the kingdom.
During the visit, the minister reviewed the progress of the work on the exploration project implemented by the technical staff of the Directorate of Geology and Mining at the ministry, where a series of core drilling is taking place in an exploration area exceeding 50 square kilometers, aimed at assessing the phosphate ore reserves in the area.
Al-Kharabsheh confirmed during the tour that the ministry's efforts in the project are in implementation of the royal directives and the economic modernization vision, and in line with the mining sector strategy, pointing to the importance of enhancing the geological database and raising the level of the exploited reserves of strategic minerals such as phosphate, base metals, rare earth elements, and others, ensuring the provision of accurate preliminary information for investors and opening new prospects for investment in the mining sector.
Al-Kharabsheh clarified that one of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's policies is to maximize the added value of mineral ores, through reducing their export in their raw form and encouraging the expansion of related manufacturing industries, thus achieving better economic returns and enhancing the sector’s contribution to the GDP.
Al-Kharabsheh mentioned that these projects represent a fundamental step towards expanding the manufacturing industries for phosphate, which includes the production of phosphoric acid and fertilizers, in addition to the materials used in pharmaceutical and medical industries, thereby supporting the national economy and providing future employment opportunities, especially when industrial projects are established in mining areas.
The minister also listened during the tour to an overview of the strategic importance of phosphate ore in Jordan, as it is one of the most important natural resources on which the national economy relies. Initial exploration activities for phosphate in the kingdom began in the middle of the last century, before expanding exploration and development operations in multiple locations, with promising initial indicators for the extensions of the ore in central and eastern Jordan areas, which are currently being scientifically evaluated.
In a related context, the minister pointed out that the provinces of Karak and Tafilah and the central and southern regions of Jordan are rich in mineral wealth diversity in addition to phosphate ore, where important industrial ores such as limestone and dolomite are present, as well as ores used in construction and construction industries. Also present is oil shale in commercial quantities in the area, which is considered an important strategic resource for the kingdom due to its role in enhancing energy supply security and diversifying its sources.
The tour also included a visit to the Al-Qatranah Field Center, where the minister was briefed on the mechanisms of sample storage and the importance of the center, which is strategically located as it is central to most mining projects in the south of the kingdom within the provinces of Karak and Tafilah, providing logistical and technical support for exploration operations.
Al-Kharabsheh was accompanied on the tour by the Director of Geology and Mining, Geologist Hisham Ziyoud, and heads of exploration, drilling, and data processing departments, Mo'tasem Al-Hawamdeh, Mohammad Abu Keshk, Laith Abu Aqar, in addition to the site manager Nasr Al-Tarawneh and the drilling crews and technicians working at the site.
