Homs, Aug. 13 (SANA) Jordanian company Arkan has submitted a proposal to invest in a phosphate block at the Sawwana mines in Syria’s Homs countryside, using modern selective mining techniques aimed at improving ore quality and increasing the resource’s economic value, the Energy Ministry said Thursday.
The proposal, submitted to the General Establishment of Geology and Mineral Resources, would use selective mining to target phosphate-rich layers and separate lower-grade material, allowing for the production of high-concentration ore that meets international standards, the ministry said on Telegram.
It also includes a global marketing plan aimed at expanding Syrian phosphate exports and strengthening their presence in international markets.
The ministry said a comprehensive proposal, including an economic feasibility study, was being prepared ahead of a possible move to implementation.
Syria holds substantial phosphate reserves, making the mineral one of the country’s key natural resources with significant export potential.
The Energy Ministry restarted the phosphate plant at the Eastern Sawwana mines in the eastern Homs countryside last November after rehabilitation work, restoring production for the first time in 10 years. The facility has an annual capacity of 1.2 million tons.
In December, the General Establishment of Geology and Mineral Resources signed a cooperation agreement with TERYAQ, a subsidiary of Serbia’s ELIXIR GROUP, to develop and export 1.5 million tons of phosphate in 2026.
N.J/ABD
