Muscat – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has embarked on a one-of-its kind project in which it will use the silt deposited in dams in the ceramic industry and for agriculture.

With an aim to benefit from the silt accumulated in dams, the ministry and Arkan Foundation for Research, Development and Innovation signed an agreement on Wednesday. The first phase of the RO7mn project will involve collecting deposits from five dams. The project will later be expanded to more dams.

Silting of dam reservoirs is a worldwide problem. Though a natural phenomenon, it endangers dam safety. The sediments deposited amplify the overall load and often shut off dams’ bottom outlets. Silting also reduces the usable capacity of the reservoir and degrades the quality of the water stored.

With this new project, the ministry seeks to add value to the silt extracted from dams and use it in different industries, chiefly to revitalise the ceramics industry.

Abdullah bin Mohammed al Shehhi, CEO of Arkan, said, “The first phase of the project – called Ardic (Your Land) – is aimed at exploiting the silt from Wadi al Jazi dam in Sohar, Wadi Ahin dam in Saham, Wadi al Hawasna dam in Khabourah, Wadi Mistal dam in Nakhal, and Wadi Dayqah dam in Quriyat.”

He added that the project will provide value addition to the tune of RO3mn from innovative projects in agriculture and industry, and from raw materials for the construction sector targeting local and international markets.

According to Shehhi, the project will provide 29 direct job opportunities for Omanis, and more than 70 indirect jobs in the first years of the initiative, while supporting small and medium enterprises greatly.

“Our company conducted a study to implement targeted value-added projects in partnership with investment funds, and local and international companies. Strategic objectives of the initiative, such as cleaning accumulated mud from dam lakes, will also raise storage capacity.”