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PM inaugurates Yemen’s first mine

Posted in: Front Page
Written By: Abdul-Aziz Oudah
Article Date: Feb 24, 2009 - 6:45:30 AM

Prime Minister Dr. Ali Mujwar laid the foundation stone for Yemen’s first and largest mine, in the area of Jabal Salab in the district of Nahm, 110km northeast of Sana’a.

The giant investment project cost more than $200 million dollars, and was built by the Jabal Salab Company (Yemen) Limited.

The project is a joint-venture between the Jabal Salab Company, the ANSAN Company, and the British firm ZincOx.

The mine will provide the country with a large source of lead, silver and zinc; crude ore alone is estimated at being over 12.6 million tones, and contains 8.86% pure zinc.

During the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister expressed the state’s desire to support the mining industry as one of the most important sources for Yemeni economic diversification.

The state is keen to diversify the country’s economy in order to alleviate the over-reliance on oil exports. During the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister expressed his hope that this mine will be the first of many, as many such future projects are planned. This includes possible gold mining in Hadramout and Hajjah, and copper mining in Amran and Taiz.

Mr. Brett Grist, the manager of ZincOx Resources PLC in Yemen said that work on the project had been long going, commencing in 1980, however the project had already brought numerous benefits to the region. He expected exports to commence in the first half of 2010 with the mines first shipment of Yemeni Zinc.

In reference to the benefits this project will provide to the country, Mr. Grist stated that the project is likely to create 400 jobs, and more than 1,000 indirect employment opportunities, through related businesses. He added that Yemeni employees will be properly trained, and amount to 95% of the projects employees. He went on to say that equipment used to search for zinc will be transferred over to the country, allowing Yemeni’s to benefit in the future, through the use of the equipment to search for gold.

The citizens living in the area expressed their hopes for the success of the project, and thanked the companies involved for the opportunity to participate in the projects development. Dr. Ishmael al-Janad, the Head of the Geological Survey Authority said this project represents the development of the second largest sector of the Yemeni economy after oil.

Economists have said this project will have a strong impact on Yemen’s economy, ensuring the country’s future growth and development. In total, the returns from this project will amount to nearly $600 million for the country’s economy.

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