Abdul-Amir Al Ajmi, the External Affairs & Value Creation Director at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), talks about how COVID-19 has accelerated digital transformation across departments at the PDO during his keynote speech at the Alam Al-Iktisaad Awards.

“I think it is fair to say that, in many areas, COVID has actually accelerated much-needed change by forcing us all to reassess the way we do things.

This is certainly true in the case of PDO, where there has been a step-change in the adoption of new digital technologies to enable our staff to work remotely, connect with contractors and suppliers and to virtually execute projects, such as commissioning new plants and equipment.

This has been vividly illustrated at our most complex project to date at Yibal Khuff, which, despite the huge pressures exerted by the pandemic, is still well on track.

Platforms such as Skype for Business and Cisco Webex have enabled us to work faster, more efficiently; and above all, more safely through greater online collaboration, real-time recording and monitoring, and high-quality video streaming of operations and facilities.

However, it’s long been one of PDO’s mantras that we only succeed if the communities in which we operate succeed.

That is why we moved quickly to address urgent needs such as our collaboration in the new field hospital at the old Muscat airport. Our Production Chemistry team has also produced over 200,000 litres of hand sanitiser and setup (along [with] the other 53 factories) two local mask supply chains (delivering just under 6 mln masks, of which half we have distributed to schools for hospitals, schools, government bodies and private enterprises.

And we’ve worked closely with the Ministry of Education to fund almost 3,000 laptops for students in our concession area so they can work remotely.

Such efforts are on top of our ongoing community support efforts, channelled to social investment projects across Oman to support local markets and communities, and seven joint projects with Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources to boost food security.

Yes, businesses are being stretched to the limit but the fact of the matter is we must never forget the communities where we work. The modern-day stakeholder expects, if not demands, we not only talk the talk on corporate social responsibility but also walk the walk.

This is both a moral and commercial imperative, not least in times of trouble.

Of course, there are very real concerns about the impact that COVID-19 is having on the employment market. That is why it is incumbent on us all to proactively pursue robust ICV strategies.”