Alara Secures Second Copper Mining Licence in Oman: What This Means for Investors and Entrepreneurs

• By Jomar Mendoza
• August 5, 2025August 6, 2025
• copper mining Oman
• With 0 comments

MUSCAT: Alara Resources Limited, an Australian Securities Exchange-listed explorer and producer of base and precious metals, has been granted a mining licence for the Daris 3A5 prospect, part of the Daris Copper-Gold Project in Oman. The licence, issued by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, marks a significant advancement in Alara’s plans to expand its copper mining operations within the Sultanate.

This licence is the second awarded to an Alara joint venture in Oman, strengthening the company’s foothold in the country’s emerging mining sector. It encompasses 0.65 square kilometers of Block 7, a mineral-rich area approximately 150 kilometers west of Muscat.

The Daris Copper-Gold Project is managed by Daris Resources LLC, a joint venture where Alara holds a 50 percent interest and management rights, with an option to increase its stake to 70 percent.

Alara Resources stated that the mining licence follows an extensive approval process involving detailed technical evaluations and consultations with stakeholders. While the licence authorizes mining activities, the company emphasized that further exploration is necessary to confirm the presence of economically viable mineralisation at Daris 3A5. "This announcement does not imply that potentially economic mineralisation has been discovered at Daris 3A5," Alara clarified.

Initial exploration by Alara from 2010 to 2012 included airborne electromagnetic (VTEM) surveys, ground magnetic surveys, and diamond drilling, which identified high-grade copper mineralisation. Significant drill intercepts recorded were 3.45 meters at 10.28% copper, 17.2 meters at 8.05% copper, and 30.75 meters at 4.69% copper. These results supported the 2013 application for the mining licence.

Looking forward, Alara plans a comprehensive development programme over the next year to delineate the resource and prepare for mining operations. This will involve new geophysical surveys, additional diamond drilling, and metallurgical testing to assess recovery potential. If warranted, the company intends to publish a mineral resource estimate and reserve classification under the JORC Code, alongside detailed mine planning and potential agreements for toll treatment with existing copper processing facilities in Oman.

Alara Managing Director Atmavireshwar Sthapak remarked, "The award of the Daris 3A5 Mining Licence marks a pivotal achievement for Alara and reiterates our strong commitment to Oman’s mining industry." He highlighted the company’s 15-year track record, from exploration and feasibility studies to developing Oman’s first copper mine and processing facility at Wash-hi Majaza. "Daris 3A5 is set to become our second copper mining operation, creating further value for our shareholders,” he added, acknowledging the support from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, joint venture partners, and company staff.

Supporting this view, Shaikh Salim bin Mustahail al Mashani, Chairman of Al Tamman Trading and Establishment, a joint venture partner, said: “The granting of the Daris 3A5 Mining Licence marks a significant milestone in Oman’s mining sector development. It represents the success of close collaboration between our team, Alara, and government authorities. The Daris project embodies our shared vision for a sustainable and economically impactful mining industry in Oman.”

The Daris 3A5 licence award aligns with Oman’s Vision 2040 economic diversification strategy, which prioritizes mining and minerals sector development. Alara’s progress signals growing investor confidence in Oman’s mineral potential and supports efforts to establish the Sultanate as a regional copper production hub.

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The awarding of the Daris 3A5 mining license to Alara Resources signals a strategic boost to Oman’s copper mining sector, reinforcing the country’s Vision 2040 goal of economic diversification. For businesses, this creates opportunities in mining services, infrastructure, and supply chains, but also calls for cautious evaluation due to pending exploration results. Smart investors and entrepreneurs should monitor Alara’s development activities closely, as successful resource confirmation could position Oman as a key regional copper producer with significant growth potential.