The Petroleum Development of Oman (PDO)Petroleum Development of Oman (PDO)
yesterday signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 13 government ministries and local NGOs covering 17 separate social investment projects.

This is the biggest single batch of social investment projects ever signed at one time and highlights PDO’s continuing efforts to support wider Omani society.

The MoUs were signed at a special ceremony held at the Ministry of Oil and Gas under the auspices of Dr Mohammed bin Hamad bin Saif Al Romhi, minister of oil and gas and chairman of the PDO board of directors in the presence of other PDO board members, senior PDOP ’s managers, members of the combined government/PDO Social Investment Committee, and representatives of the signing bodies.

The MoUs were signed by the PDO with Al Noor Association for the Blind; Environmental Society of Oman; Ministry of Manpower; Ministry of Interior; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Social Development; Ministry of Fisheries; Association of Early Intervention; Public Authority for Electricity and Water; Ministry of Heritage and Culture; Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources; Ministry of Sports Affairs.

In one major project, the PDO will pay for the construction of a water treatment plant at Awaifiyah in the wilayat of Bahla, which will provide clean water to local inhabitants.

Another water treatment unit will be installed at the government centre in Al Furja in Ibri. In south Oman, local communities will benefit from vastly improved healthcare from the new health centre in Al Gubrah Al Janubiyah in the wilayat of Al Jazaer and a maternity ward at the Thumrait Health Centre.

Children throughout Oman will gain from a range of measures supported by the PDO. A total of 12 schools throughout the Sultanate will be equipped with “smart” classroom while four mobile labs will be supplied to areas in south Oman.

A further 12 schools in north and south Oman will get sunshades, securing children’s ability to have outside recreation during the summer heat.

The PDO will also support the Al Noor Association for the Blind in a major project to restore sight to blind Omani children while the Early Intervention Association will get help to buy 24 special seats for children.

Improving communities’ self-sufficiency is the focus of two training programmes in north and south Oman. The PDO will support the Ministry of Manpower in supplying training for employment programmes as well as partnering with the Ministry of Social Development to provide special training in the production and marketing of milk products in the Dhofar region.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries, beaching areas for fishing boats will be improved in the Muttrah area. Golf will also be a beneficiary, as the PDO will drill a water supply well at the Ghala golf course.

In order to improve lifestyle and safety, the PDO will pay for the installation of street lights at Buthayla in the wilayat of Adam as well as supporting the second stage of the Central Oman Paleolithic Survey and contributing to a project to minimise litter along the Muscat coastline.

“These MoUs show that the PDO is a good corporate citizen serving the wider interests of the Omani people,” commented Dr Mohammed bin Hamad bin Saif Al Romhi.

“They represent a good example of how companies should work with the government on projects above and beyond their business remit.”

“These social investment projects highlight our ongoing and growing commitment to improving the well-being of the Omani people,” said Managing Director John Malcolm.

Mundhir bin Salim Al Barwani, HR director said: “Our Social Investment programme is growing in tandem with our expanding oil and gas operations.

By working in close cooperation with the government through the Social Investment Committee, we are able to identify and support a wide range of projects that help individuals and communities.”