Muscat – Australia-based precious and base metals explorer and developer Alara Resources has announced the successful completion of commissioning and the commencement of concentrate production at its one-million-tonne a year Al Wash-hi-Majaza copper-gold mine and copper concentrate plant in Oman.

The Al Wash-hi-Majaza Mine is owned and operated by Alara’s 51% joint venture company, Al Hadeetha Resources.

Mine production will ramp up to full capacity over the next two-to-three months. The sale of the first shipment, approximately 1,000 dry metric tonnes of copper concentrate, to Trafigura is expected in April 2024, Alara Resources said in a statement submitted to the Australian Stock Exchange.

Before introducing copper ore to the processing plant all major equipment was commissioned through a series of tests, including a trial run with basaltic rock, the company said. ‘All systems were found to be functioning correctly, with only a technical issue with the tailings filter press still being resolved. This issue is not impeding production at planned levels, however,’ the company said.’

Alara’s Managing Director Atmavireshwar Sthapak said, “The commencement of concentrate production is a momentous occasion for Alara and its shareholders. This represents the culmination of 12 years’ hard work, from project site identification through resource definition, detailed engineering studies, debt and equity financing and the construction phase just completed.”

“This great achievement would not have been possible without the enormous efforts of Alara’s joint venture partners in Al Hadeetha Resources – Omani conglomerates Al Naba Services and Al Tasnim Enterprises, for which we are extremely grateful. Their local experience, networks and contracting capabilities made an invaluable contribution to bringing this mine to production,” Sthapak said.

He added that Alara looks forward to the next stage of its journey to become a mid-tier mining production company, involving a shift of focus to developing existing exploration projects and new acquisitions.

“I would like to thank our shareholders for their support over this period and into the future.”

Currently focused on operating the Al Wash-hi-Majaza Copper-Gold project in Oman, Alara is also continuing exploration activities at its other Oman projects – the Block 7 exploration license under the Daris JV and the Mullaq and Al Ajal exploration licenses under the Al Hadeetha JV.