Title: Yemen: Mining, Minerals, and Fuel Resources
Headings: Yemen: Mining, Minerals, and Fuel Resources
Yemen: Mining, Minerals, and Fuel Resources
Overview of Resources
Metals
Industrial Minerals
Fossil Fuels
Investment
Sources and Further Reading
G.P. Thomas
Citations
Tell Us What You Think

Content: According to 2010 geological and geochemical surveys carried out by several foreign minerals exploration companies and the government, the country was estimated to have 40 gold and silver deposits of which the Medden area has the largest deposit of 678,000 t of gold that can yield an average of 15g of gold and 11g of silver. The Jabali zinc and silver mine owned by Jabal Salab Co. is estimated to contain 12.6 million metric tons (Mt) of oxide ore grading 1.2% lead, 18.9% zinc and 68 g per metric ton (g/Mt) of silver. The minable reserves in this mine have been estimated to be 8.7 Mt grading 9.2% zinc. In 2011, Cantex completed drilling activities in Wadi Qutabahnickel-copper-cobalt and PGM project and acquired the Suwar nickel-copper-cobalt deposit. The company has planned to complete the prefeasibility study of the Suwar by mid-2012. Industrial Minerals
State-owned Yemen Corporation for Cement Industry and marketing (YCC), National Cement Co. (AYCC), and Arabian Yemen Cement Co. Ltd are the major cement producing companies in Yemen. Cement plants at Amran, Bajil, and Al Burh are operated by YCC. In 2009, the Amran cement plant produced nearly 1.3 Mt of cement, the Al Burh produced 553,000 t and the Bajil plant produced 300,000 t. In 2010, AYCC operated the Hadramaout cement plant in Al-Oyoun, which has a production capacity of 1.5-Mt/yr of cement. Fossil Fuels
According to 2010 reports, Yemen had estimated gas reserves of nearly 490 billion m 3. In 2010, the country exported nearly 6.9 billion m 3 of LNG, compared to 535,000 million m 3 in 2009.