JEDDAH: Jordan signed two agreements to explore mineral resources in Wadi Abu Al-Buraq and Samra Al-Taybeh in the southern part of the country, aiming to attract investment and create jobs.
The first memorandum of understanding allows prospecting for base, precious, critical and strategic minerals — including rare earth elements — across 13.9 sq. km in the Jabal Samra Al-Taybeh area for a period of 67 weeks, the Jordan News Agency, also known as Petra, reported.
The second MoU covers the exploration of gold ore, as well as base, precious, critical, and strategic minerals, and rare earth elements, over 106 sq. km in the Jabal Abu Al-Buraq area for 98 weeks.
Mining is a central pillar of Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision, which aims to raise the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product to 2.1 percent by 2033, expand employment to 27,000 workers and lift exports to 3.4 billion Jordanian dinars ($4.8 billion).
The government estimates untapped opportunities at about $1.14 billion, including in calcium phosphate and specialized phosphate products.
