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July 1, 2026 – Eng. Hisham Al-Zayoud, Director of the Mining Directorate at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, participated in the specialized panel discussion, “Fair Mining in Jordan: Economy, Sovereignty, and Local Development.” The session brought together a select group of experts, researchers, and representatives from government agencies and the private sector to explore the ways of enhancing the mining sector’s contribution to the national economy, maximizing the added value of natural resources, promoting local development, and reviewing best practices in mineral resource management while achieving a balance between economic development and sustainability.

During his intervention, Al-Zayoud emphasized that Jordan adopts a balanced investment model in the mining sector. This model encourages investors to finance exploration activities, thereby reducing the financial burden on the state treasury, while simultaneously preserving state sovereignty over its natural resources and ensuring fair returns within the framework of applicable legislation.

He explained that the costs of geological and exploration studies are high, making private sector involvement in financing them the most efficient option. He noted that the investor bears the exploration expenses, while the state benefits from the generated geological data, in addition to the returns and revenues guaranteed by law.

Al-Zayoud pointed out that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources signed ten exploration agreements, which later increased to more than twenty projects. These agreements contributed to the implementation of advanced geological surveys and studies at the investors' expense, thus providing an important scientific database without placing any financial burden on the public budget.

He indicated that Jordan possesses promising potential in the field of strategic minerals and rare earth elements, for which global demand is growing rapidly due to their use in advanced industries, including renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and high-efficiency magnets. He emphasized that these resources represent a strategic opportunity to enhance the Kingdom's competitiveness and attract quality investments that add value to the national economy.

He added that the mining sector strategy focuses on maximizing the added value of natural resources, developing mining industries, and increasing the sector's contribution to the GDP, in line with the objectives of the economic modernization vision. He emphasized that Jordanian legislation guarantees competition and transparency in granting exploration and investment rights, while simultaneously preserving the state's sovereignty over its natural resources.

In closing, Al-Zayoud affirmed that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is committed to develop the legislative and regulatory environment for the mining sector, thereby enhancing investment attractiveness and increasing the added value of natural resources. This, in turn, will contribute to maximize national returns from mineral wealth and transform it into a driver of growth and development.