Phosphate company hails Cabinet decision on mining licence

AMMAN — The Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) on Tuesday praised the Cabinet’s decision to grant new excavation and mining rights licences for the company under the 2018 Natural Resources Law.

JPMC Chairman Mohammad Thneibat said that the decision, which the company has been anticipating for more than 10 years, would have positive effects on the JPMC by enhancing its competitiveness in international markets, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Thneibat said that the new regions of excavation have phosphate reserves that could cover the needs of the company and investors for more than 30 years, which represents the minimum limit required for investment in the field.

The chairman also added that the decision would contribute to reducing the costs of mining incurred by the JPMC in current mining regions, where the company sometimes has to dig 25 to 30 metres deep to extract phosphate.

The Cabinet on Monday approved new excavation and mining rights licences for the JPMC.

Under the new decision, the Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission will provide new mining licences to the company, given its commitment to any new requirements and conditions set by the government.

The decision also mandates the formation of a committee to review the outcomes of the phosphate mining by-law of 2013, and any new restrictions on raw phosphate investment, in addition to raising the value of phosphate.

The committee is required to submit its report to the Cabinet within three months of its formation to inform the JPMC of any new fees and requirements.