Sana'a: A meeting chaired by Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Local Administration and Rural Development, Mohammed Al-Madani, and attended by Minister of Oil and Minerals Dr. Abdullah Al-Amir, discussed the role of the mineral sector in supporting local and rural development.
According to Yemen News Agency, the Vice Prime Minister emphasized that mineral resources are among Yemen's most important economic assets, requiring optimal investment to strengthen the national economy and achieve local development. He highlighted the need to utilize all national resources, including mineral wealth, efficiently and avoid waste caused by disputes over authorities and competencies. Al-Madani stressed the importance of balancing the distribution of mineral revenues between central authorities and local governments.
The meeting, which included Governor of Amran Dr. Faisal Jumaan, deputies of the Ministry for Local Administration and Community Participation, rural development sector representatives, and legal advisors, also discussed a proposed amendment to the Mines and Quarries Law, aiming to allocate a portion of mineral revenues to support local and rural development projects.
Al-Madani underlined the importance of raising public awareness about the significance of mineral resources in supporting both central and local economies, describing them as national wealth that should be invested in development and service projects. He also called for practical solutions to obstacles that hinder mineral investment, announcing that a workshop will soon be held to develop proposals for the optimal utilization of this vital resource.
Minister Al-Amir described the mining sector as promising for Yemen, despite past mismanagement that exposed it to looting and control by influential actors. He stressed the need to align the interests of local authorities with those of investors. The Ministry has prepared a draft law amendment defining the roles of the General Authority for Geological Survey and Mineral Resources and local authorities, ensuring the state's rights at both central and local levels. The goal is to protect national resources and prevent the waste of mineral wealth, which is crucial for economic development.
Governor Jumaan highlighted challenges with crushers due to disputes over jurisdiction and revenues, calling for practical solutions to ensure optimal collection of this resource.
The meeting emphasized the need to establish a national mineral resources database, enhance trust between central and local authorities and investors, and allocate part of mineral revenues to community development projects. Discussions also covered issues of unskilled labor, licensing, investment, and environmental impact, with a focus on finding appropriate solutions.
Specialists and officials from the Ministry, the Geological Survey Authority, the Capital Secretariat, and the governorates of Dhamar and Sana'a participated, reviewing the mandates of the Geological Survey Authority, the economic role of mineral wealth in community development, the establishment of service and development projects, and the creation of employment opportunities.