Ministry inks two agreements to explore lithium, gold

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The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources signed Sunday two memoranda of understanding with the Arab Mining Company to excavate for lithium in the Feynan area in Wadi Araba and for gold in the Jabal Mubarak area in the Aqaba governorate.

The memoranda were signed by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh and the Arab Mining Company’s General Manager Hassan Takrouri.

In a statement, Kharabsheh said that the exploration process will continue for a year, during which the mining company will explore an area of 50 square kilometers in Jabal Mubarak and an area of 35 square kilometers in Feynan, excluding the boundaries of natural, archaeological and geological reserves.

The ministry, he indicated, prioritizes the mining sector, which was described as having a high industrial value in the Economic Modernization Vision, due to its importance in providing the national economy with added value, expanding job opportunities and contributing to efforts to achieve sustainable development.

The ministry had also signed seven memoranda of understanding with local and international companies to study the economic feasibility of exploring ores of rare earth elements, including gold and copper. These studies are expected to be submitted by the middle of next year.