Muscat: Al Shawamikh Oil Services SAOC, a leading Super Local Community Contractor (SLCC), accepted the delivery of high-tech automated hoists, which are the first of their kind in the Sultanate. These hoists are committed for service within Petroleum Development Oman’s (PDO) assigned concession areas of Bahla and Adam in North Oman. 

These hoists were designed, manufactured and delivered in record time by the Canadian firm Highwood Global, a leading manufacturer of trusted oil services equipment. Despite the restrictions imposed due to the pandemic, the firm managed to design, manufacture and ship this highly complicated equipment to Oman in 1 year compared to the typical 2-year time frame, traditionally taken.

To enable the speedy delivery of such valuable goods weighing 120 metric tonnes, the Canadian firm delivered the hoists via air cargo – utilising the mammoth-like Antonov-124 cargo plane, the largest cargo plane which is rarely seen in action in the Middle East.

The project will enable the transfer of specialist technology and know-how to the Sultanate – a goal enshrined in Oman Vision 2040, which seeks to enhance economic diversification notably through the advancement of the industrial sector, and supporting In-Country Value (ICV) development linked to oil and gas projects. 

Dr Aflah al Hadhrami, CEO of Al Shawamikh said, “The strategic partnership between Al Shawamikh and Highwood has won praise from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and among other institutions and companies in the oil and gas sector, for promoting the transfer of the latest hoists technology in this vital sector. This partnership achieves one of the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 by enabling the transfer of technologies while also attracting foreign investment into the Sultanate, notably through the establishment of a national factory by Highwood, the first of its kind locally, to manufacture this type of hoists with the ‘Made in Oman’ label. This project will contribute to ICV development and local added value, besides creating job opportunities for nationals, raising the level of local competencies in the oil and gas sector and open up future prospects for the expansion of Al Shawamikh in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.”

Kevin Kerr, CEO of Highwood Global has further strengthened the firm’s commitment by launching a branch of the company in Oman named, ‘Highwood Oman’.