Muscat: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is to be the main host of Oman Sustainability Week (OSW), hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, underlining its strong commitment to being a champion of sustainable development.

The Company will showcase a number of its initiatives highlighting the importance of sustainability in achieving economic and social development, as well as preserving the environment and its resources.

The event will be hosted under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, who will inaugurate the week on March 14 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. 

PDO Managing Director Steve Phimister, said the company is determined to strike the right balance between meeting the oil and gas demands of the country while mitigating its impact on the environment and supporting the communities in which it operates.

He added: “At PDO, we have a symbiotic relationship between our operations and the environment. We don’t just incorporate and comply with evolving ESG norms, we try to find innovative ways to enhance our processes to do better for the environment. 

“As the main hosts of the Oman Sustainability Week, we seek to lead by example. While we have integrated sustainability in every aspect of our business, it also becomes our inherent duty and moral obligation to continue to raise public awareness about sustainable practices and why it is critical to adopt these measures.”

The week will provide a platform for the company to showcase its collaboration with different government bodies and private companies to boost sustainability initiatives in Oman while acting as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth.  

Mr Phimister said: “Hosting OSW is a significant milestone in our journey as we align ourselves to the Sultanate’s Energy Vision. We have been at the forefront of spearheading sustainability initiatives in the Sultanate, encouraging energy independence and paving the way for a sustainable, green economy for future generations. While we remain committed to meeting national energy needs, we have also developed a detailed Decarbonisation Roadmap that will enable us to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 with a step-change by 2030.”

PDO has unveiled a new five-year Environmental Strategy and Action Plan that is geared to achieving its overall corporate objectives of sustainable growth, operational excellence and meeting its sustainability commitments in line with the Oman Vision 2040.

PDO was also the first national oil company in the Gulf to become a member of the United Nations Global Compact in 2015, the largest voluntary corporate social responsibility initiative in the world aimed at fulfilling fundamental responsibilities related to human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption.

And, as part of combatting climate change, it has pioneered landmark solar energy schemes at Amin and Amal in the South and at its Muscat headquarters, is a founder member of the National Hydrogen Alliance and is working to open its first wind energy farm in 2024.

Last year, it committed to spending more than US$10 million on 83 social investment projects aligned to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in areas such as water and energy management, education and science, youth and female empowerment and community welfare.

Mr Phimister said: “Adopting ethical business practices is now a prerequisite for any company to succeed.”