Al Shuwaymiyah Port Tender Launches, Oman’s First Minerals Seaport

Why It Matters

The port creates a strategic export hub that lowers logistics costs and positions Oman as a major global supplier of industrial minerals, driving downstream industry and job growth.

Key Takeaways

• $409 million CAPEX for 27 MTPA minerals port.
• JSW Infrastructure holds 51% stake, MDO 49% in SPV.
• Port targets first-half 2029 operations for gypsum, limestone, dolomite.
• Concessions hold ~4.3 billion tonnes of gypsum, dolomite, limestone.
• Project expected to spur logistics, downstream industry and jobs.

Pulse Analysis

Oman's mineral endowment has long been a hidden asset, with vast deposits of gypsum, limestone and dolomite scattered across the Dhofar region. Until now, exporters have relied on northern ports that add distance and cost to shipments. The Al Shuwaymiyah deep‑water seaport, a greenfield project on the southeastern coast, directly addresses this bottleneck by providing a purpose‑built gateway for bulk minerals. By situating the terminal near the extraction sites, the design reduces haulage distances, lowers logistics expenses, and improves the competitiveness of Omani industrial minerals on global markets.

The venture is financed through a $409 million capital program, split between Minerals Development Oman (MDO) and Indian port operator JSW Infrastructure, which holds a 51 percent equity stake via the South Minerals Port Company SAOC. With a handling capacity of 27 million tonnes per year, the facility can move the full output of the three concessions—estimated at more than 4.3 billion tonnes of gypsum, dolomite and limestone. This scale positions Oman to become a leading supplier of industrial minerals to construction, agriculture and heavy‑industry customers across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Beyond the direct export benefits, the Al Shuwaymiyah project is expected to catalyze a wave of downstream investment, including mineral processing plants, warehousing and ancillary logistics services. The 36‑month construction window, slated to begin after the September 6 2026 tender deadline, will generate thousands of jobs and upskill the local workforce in marine engineering and heavy construction. When operational in the first half of 2029, the port will diversify Oman’s maritime infrastructure, reducing reliance on traditional hubs and reinforcing the Sultanate’s ambition to be a Middle Eastern logistics gateway.