PDO
Signs 14 Agreements to Fund Social Investment Projects
Muscat,
13 May (ONA) —— Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has signed 14 agreements to
finance a number of social investment projects, with a total value of
approximately RO 4.4 million.
The
signings took place on the sidelines of Oman Sustainability Week and the Oman
Petroleum & Energy Show 2025, currently being held at Oman Convention and
Exhibition Centre.
The
funding agreements cover diverse projects across multiple sectors, including
education, health, environment, water, and community infrastructure
development—reflecting the company’s steadfast commitment to sustainable
development and enhancing national competencies.
Dr.
Aflah Said Al Hadhrami, Managing Director of PDO, stated that these agreements
embody the company’s integrated approach to creating tangible social impact and
strengthening partnerships with national institutions to support sustainable
development.
He
emphasized that these community projects reflect PDO’s deep understanding of
its role within society and its responsibility toward individuals, aligning
with the goals of Oman Vision 2040 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
2030.
In
the education sector, PDO signed an agreement with the Ministry of Higher
Education, Research, and Innovation to support a new cohort of its Community
Scholarship Programme for the 2025–2026 academic year. The programme will
provide 150 fully funded scholarships for students from the company’s
concession area—85 for diploma studies and 65 for bachelor’s degrees.
In
a joint initiative with Sultan Qaboos University, PDO will co-fund the
establishment of Oman’s first Emerging Technologies Unit, supporting over
20,000 students annually and more than 3,000 graduation projects in fields such
as artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, and cybersecurity.
The
company remains focused on education as a top priority, supporting five
development programmes in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, namely
Ma’rifa (Knowledge), Ta’zeez (Empowerment), Tamayuz (Excellence), Khubrat Al
Amal (Work Experiences), and the Engineering Village Camp. These initiatives
aim to enhance students’ career readiness, foster innovation, and broaden their
global perspectives.
Additionally,
PDO will fund preparatory classrooms in two schools within its concession area
to support early education and invest in future generations.
In
the health sector, PDO—in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Daleel
Petroleum—will expand the emergency department at Ibri Hospital, which serves
over 50,000 patients annually, increasing its capacity. The company will also
fund a new health centre in Andat, Dhofar Governorate, in collaboration with
the Ministry of Health, to serve nearby villages and energy sector workers,
improving healthcare access in remote areas.
To
promote environmental sustainability, PDO is collaborating with Nama Water
Services to establish a desalination plant and distribution network in
Al-Ghubra Al-Janubiya, the Wilayat of Al-Jazer, providing water to over 300
residents.
The
company is working with Al-Jisr Foundation and the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) to establish a camel cheese production facility in the
Wilayat of Rakhyut, empowering over 4,000 camel owners and creating income
opportunities in this new economic activity.
Additionally,
PDO signed an agreement to provide further support for the camel racing field
in Muqshin, Dhofar Governorate.
Other
agreements include funding defensive driving training for 580 ambulance drivers
in collaboration with the Royal Oman Police, supplying advanced equipment for
the Water Technologies Laboratory at Sultan Qaboos University, and contributing
to the final phase of the Bahla Cultural Centre—a community and cultural hub in
A’Dakhiliyah Governorate.
PDO
will finance 20 youth skills development programmes under the Youth Centre 2025
initiative, targeting over 4,000 Omani youth. It will also support the Musta’ed
(Ready) programme, implemented by Outward Bound Oman, which aims to empower 500
young men and women as part of ongoing efforts to enhance youth capabilities.
The
signing ceremony was attended by HH Dr. Fahd Al Julanda Al Said, Vice
Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, along with several undersecretaries,
governors, and senior officials from the respective sectors.
——
Ends/AH
