If we go back to the original ICV strategy blueprint, 53 ICV opportunities were identified and PDO is leading the implementation of 40 of them. So far, the Company has localised the supply and manufacture of goods and services in a number of key areas, such as scaffolding, carbon steel pipes, well engineering equipment and the provision of polymer for enhanced oil recovery.

We are always happy to support the Government. For example, we are part of the excellent Tanfeedh programme to enhance national economic diversification. Our staff have played active, and sometimes leading, roles in Tanfeedh workshops on logistics, labour, manufacturing and tourism, and we are talking with Government about the management of a few of their infrastructure projects.

PDO also has a robust social investment programme. What has been its focus area?

When we talk about our social investment programme, again the focus is on sustainability by adopting a strategic approach and meeting the exact requirements of the community in the areas of health, education and training, self employment, etc.

Our Banat Oman social enterprise has so far provided vocational training for hundreds of women from low-income backgrounds in skills such as tailoring, embroidery, dairy product manufacture and crafting jewellery. On the education side, we have an annual community scholarship programme in which we provide university education to scholars from our concession area so that they can acquire professional qualifications and become a productive resource for the nation.

One thing we are actively considering is a sustainable education programme to encourage scholars to train as teachers and then return to work in schools and colleges in their communities in the concession area. We believe this will improve educational standards as it will provide a more stable learning environment. If we proceed, the aim is to cover all 58 schools in Block 6.

Education is clearly important to PDO. What else are you doing in this area?

We work at all levels of the education system, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, from primary schools to the top universities. Over the years, we have provided equipment and learning materials for schools, and were even responsible for Oman’s first interactive classroom by installing the latest teaching technologies.

It’s not just about what happens in the schools and we have also provided vehicle maintenance and driving training for hundreds of school bus drivers to ensure they get children to and from school safely.

One other exciting area is our increasing collaboration with Omani universities on research and development. This year, we signed R&D agreements with Muscat, Sohar, A’sharqiyah Universities to pave the way for their academic experts and students help resolve some of our complex technical challenges. PDO will fund the universities to assist it in key areas, such as enhanced oil recovery, water management and energy efficiency and security, the latter by encouraging renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies.

We are also working together with the universities to encourage Omani small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs to carry out their basic technological research, test proof their conceptual thoughts and innovative ideas and develop early stage technology in the universities’ laboratories prior to any potential future commercial agreements. PDO will assist with the establishment of technology centres at the universities and our own experts will be given access to these research hubs and run and develop teaching programmes.

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