Suhar Industrial City Inks Deal for Innovative Ceramic Tile Factory

Suhar Industrial City, in affiliation with the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates "Madayn", has signed a cooperation agreement with Middle East Calcined Clay LLC to establish a specialized factory for the production of Omani ceramic tiles. The factory, situated on a 45,000 square meter area, will involve a total investment of OMR 5.4 million.

This innovative project, part of the mining sector and supervised by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, aims to leverage Omani natural resources to produce ceramic tiles that will meet local demand and supply international markets. The factory's production capacity is expected to reach an impressive 250,000 tons per year, with the product playing a vital role in the restoration of forts, citadels, and historical landmarks across Oman.

Why this matters: This project showcases Oman's commitment to sustainable economic development, highlighting the potential for natural resource-based industries to drive growth and innovation. As the global demand for sustainable and eco-friendly products continues to rise, Oman's investment in this sector could have significant implications for the country's economy and its position in the global market.

Eng. Yahya bin Ahmed al Kharousi, Director of Local Content and Investment Opportunities Development at the Industrial Innovation Academy, emphasized the significance of this endeavor, stating, "This product plays an important role in adding value to Omani natural resources... research, development, and industrial innovation in Omani raw materials... had a significant impact on enhancing innovation and application for the Omani ceramic tile product." The state-of-the-art factory will feature two production lines, incorporating the latest technologies to ensure energy efficiency and automation in the production processes. Eng. Abdulaziz bin Saeed al Muqbali, Project Manager at Middle East Calcined Clay LLC, highlighted, "The factory includes two production lines... the latest technologies have been taken into account to provide energy efficiency and introduce automation in the production processes."

In addition to its economic benefits, the factory is set to create job opportunities for the national workforce and contribute to achieving the goals outlined in the national zero-emission program through its highly-efficient specifications designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Initial production operations are slated to commence in the first quarter of 2025.

The Industrial Innovation Academy played a pivotal role in the project's development, conducting extensive laboratory analyses, market studies, and practical product experiments in collaboration with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism. These efforts aimed to validate the efficiency and suitability of the Omani ceramic tile product for commercial production.

The establishmentof this innovative ceramic tile factory in Suhar Industrial City marks a significant milestone in Oman's industrial sector, showcasing the country's commitment to leveraging its natural resources, fostering innovation, and creating sustainable economic opportunities. As the project moves forward, it is poised to strengthen Oman's position in the global ceramic tile market while preserving its rich cultural heritage.