Tens of mining companies of different sorts and sizes are registered in the
Kingdom, employing around 8,000 to 9,000 workers; their exports, especially of
the phosphate and potash companies, account for approximately 20 percent of
total national exports.
اضافة اعلان
We have, thus, a textbook case of big corporations
hiring thousands of people and paying taxes in hundreds of millions. But can we
do better? Can we think out of the box and help these firms increase their
profits and better serve our country?
There are ground-breaking projects that could take
the sector to a new level, including, according to experts, investment in clean
energy technologies, in the specialized fertilizer industry, and refining and
marketing of Jordan’s high reserves of oil shale.
The sector is awaiting the output of the National
Economic Workshop, held at the Royal Hashemite Court and expected to submit its
recommendations soon, to come up with new ideas to maximize the country’s
benefits from its successful mining industry, but the sector might need an
event of its own, as well, like a conference or a retreat, where stakeholders
could discuss the situation in detail and come up with a comprehensive roadmap.
This is not to say that the government has been
sitting idle. It has serious plans to tap the mineral potential of Jordan, such
as copper in the southern region. A few days ago, the Ministry of Energy and
Mineral Resources signed with Turkey’s Solvest Trade and Industry Limited
Company a memo under which the Turkish partner would be conducting studies and
exploration of mine copper in Wadi Abu Khashaba and Ghor Fifa, in southern
Jordan.
Studies show that Jordan is rich in precious mineral
sources, including lithium, silver and zirconium. It also has huge reserves of
oil shale, uranium and a vast fortune of silica and gold.
This requires a sound approach to investment in this
sector. The suggested conference or retreat can set the guidelines of this
policy.
Studies show that Jordan is rich in precious mineral sources, including lithium, silver and zirconium. It also has huge reserves of oil shale, uranium and a vast fortune of silica and gold.
But before we tell investors to come, we need to
conduct studies that tell us exactly what we have and then open the mining
sector for investors, local, Arab and international. We also need to address
the challenges facing the industry. The shortage of water is a huge problem, of
course, and so is the high cost of energy, among others.
Surviving the fatal blows of the COVID-19
repercussions, the potash and phosphate companies gave proof of sound
leadership. Their contributions to planning the future of the mineral sector is
visionary.
Both companies are exactly what Jordan needs as role
models for mining firms, and others across the board. Let us capitalize on
that, especially with their profits standing last year at JD217 million for the
Arab Potash Company and JD335 million for the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company.
Figures speak for themselves.
The
writer is a former advisor at the Royal Hashemite Court, a former director of
media and communication at the Office of His Majesty King Abdullah, and works
currently as a senior advisor for business development at Al-Ghad and Jordan
News.
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