Progress in Omani copper gold project: Oman’s copper mining firm Al Hadeetha Resources has secured USD 15 mn in additional financing from its current project finance lender Sohar International Bank for the completion and commissioning of its Al Washi-hi Majaza copper-gold project, Oman Daily Observer reports, citing statements from the company. Around USD 8 mn of the additional financing facility will be used by the company — a JV between Oman’s Al Hadeetha Investment and Australian mining firm Alara Resources — to procure spare parts, reagents, lubricants, and other materials needed to commission the plant. The remainder of funds will be used for working capital, it added. The commissioning of the 1 mn ton-per-annum (MTPA) copper concentration plant is set for September of this year.

REMEMBER- Copper, cobalt, nickel, and lithium are critical minerals for EV and battery storage production, which are expected to see a massive jump in demand in the coming years as countries roll out their plans for energy transition.

And there’s increased investments in minerals mining regionally: Last month Luxembourg-headquartered Eurasian Resources Group said it is looking to build up a portfolio of energy transition minerals by investing in mining activities in MENA and the GCC.

Yemen’s solar-powered wells move forward: Yemen has launched the second phase of a renewable energy project to implement 35 solar-powered agricultural irrigation systems in several of its governorates, Spa reports. Backed by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen, the Arab Gulf Program for Development, and the Selah Foundation for Development, the project will fit irrigation wells with solar power systems in the governorates of Hadramout, Abyan, and Lahij which have recently suffered from drought.

Sonelgaz progresses on interconnector project: Algerian state power utility Sonelgaz’s subsidiary GRTE has signed turnkey contracts with local engineering and construction firms to link the country’s southern electricity grid with the national grid, according to a statement. The project, which runs through several regions, includes the construction of three high-voltage substations, several transformer substations and a transmission network to boost power supply and integrate renewable energy, according to the statement.

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