Mining company voices keenness to explore copper deposits in Dana Reserve

AMMAN — The Jordanian Integrated Company on Monday said that the project to explore copper ore and associated minerals in the Dana Biosphere Reserve is of great economic feasibility, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

According to the company, it has addressed the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, affirming its readiness to complete “this national project”. 

The company indicated that investment in the copper project was among its priorities based on the memorandum of understanding signed between the company and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, represented by the government at the end of 2016.

The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) said that “it would not stand in the way of any investment aimed to improve the living conditions of Jordanians”, according to Petra.

The RSCN called on the concerned authorities to communicate with it regarding the Dana Reserve. 

The RSCN said that it has been improving the living conditions of about 600 families from the local community who receive an annual benefit from the reserve at a value of about JD2.37 million.

In a statement, the RSCN emphasised that the reserve is one of the most important global tourist destinations, adding that it is working on developing eco-tourism.

In turn, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources affirmed its keenness to preserve the environment and biodiversity in the Dana region, in parallel with its interest in promising investment projects, in a manner that guarantees providing job opportunities and serving the rights and interests of everyone. 

The ministry in a recent statement said that studies conducted by the Natural Resources Authority (NRA) in the Dana area, located in Tafileh Governorate, on an area of 292 square kilometres, showed that the area is rich in copper and manganese ore.

Since 1966, the authority has conducted excavation studies in the area and dug many wells, trenches and tunnels, the statement said. 

The cost of investment in the region would amount to about JD200 million, and would provide job opportunities, especially for the people of the surrounding areas, estimated at 1,000 direct jobs and about 2,500 indirect jobs.

The ministry revealed that the amount of copper deposits in the Feynan area is estimated at 20 million tonnes and 25 million tonnes in Khirbet Al Nahas.

The company referred to a 2020 RSCN letter to the environment minister, requesting the company to commit to permanently banning work in the wild areas within the boundaries of the reserve.

Based on that request, the company's work was delayed, the company said.

The company drew attention to attempts to prevent its workers from completing the exploration studies in violation of the memorandum of understanding signed with the government.