MINING

Our rich and still untapped mineral resources can help diversify and bolster Iraq’s and the Kurdistan Region’s economy. Developing Kurdistan’s mineral wealth would encourage investment and bring income and employment. It would also have beneficial effects on other areas of the economy, such as construction materials, metallurgical industries, agriculture and the rehabilitation of local communities.

The Ministry is working to draft a mining law to generate interest in our mining sector, and to ensure that when it is developed it will be managed according to international standards of practice. We expect the private sector to play an important role by investing in and developing our minerals industry.

A draft non-metals mining law is awaiting ratification by the Kurdistan parliament, and a metals mining law will be drafted at a later stage.

There is high potential for deposits of metals such as iron, chromium, nickel, platinum, gold, copper, barite and zinc in a 15-25 kilometre-wide mountainous belt running across the Kurdistan Region. Other areas of the Kurdistan Region are likely to be rich in limestone, gypsum, sands, clays, gravel and evaporates.

The same advantages of stability, security, transparency and competitiveness will naturally translate from Kurdistan’s energy industry as mining operations commence.

Companies with a strong track record in mining that are interested in future mining activities in the region can contact the ministry.