Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has signed nine social responsibility agreements with a total value of approximately $9.1 million (OMR3.5 million) to support projects in the education, healthcare, environment, and youth development sectors.
The projects are aligned with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and were signed at the company’s headquarters in Mina Al Fahal.
The agreements were signed by Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al-Shaibani, Minister of Education; Basil bin Ahmed Al-Rawas, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports and Youth; Dr. Mujahid bin Rafe’ Al-Busaidi, Director General of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital; Dr. Rashid bin Mohammed Al-Alawi, Director General of Khoula Hospital; Dr. Ibrahim bin Hilal Al-Mahrouqi, Director General of Health Services in Al Wusta Governorate; and Engineer Suleiman bin Nasser Al-Akhzami, Vice President of the Environment Authority. The agreements were signed on behalf of PDO by Dr. Aflah bin Saeed Al-Hadhrami, Managing Director of Petroleum Development Oman.
The agreements reflect the company’s continued commitment to supporting national priorities through partnerships that contribute to sustainable development across different sectors.
Education projects
A significant share of the agreements focuses on education and skills development. PDO will continue supporting its scholarship program for students from schools located within its concession areas. Implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the program will enable 150 students to pursue university education.
The company will also contribute to completing communication networks in seven government schools located in the wilayats of Haima and Al Jazir. The project is expected to benefit more than 1,400 students by improving digital connectivity and supporting digital learning.
In addition, PDO launched the first cohort of its ‘Tamayuz’ program, which provides 20 outstanding scholarship students with an international enrichment program focused on leadership, innovation, and career readiness.
The company also signed a training partnership with the Ministry of Education to provide practical training in electrical engineering for around 250 university students at PDO facilities.
Youth development
PDO will continue supporting the fifth edition of the Ready Youth Skills Development Camp, implemented by the Outward Bound Oman Foundation under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth.
The program aims to train 500 Omani youth between the ages of 15 and 18 through activities focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal development.
Basil bin Ahmed Al-Rawas, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth for Sports and Youth, said that the continued partnership reflects the program’s importance and the positive outcomes achieved during previous editions.
Image Credits: ONA | Cropped by GBN
Environmental sustainability
PDO signed an agreement with the Environment Authority to support the Early Warning System for Seawater Quality Monitoring.
The project will use floating monitoring stations and smart sensing technologies to monitor seawater quality in real time. The system supports the early detection of pollution risks and contributes to protecting marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and related economic activities.
Healthcare projects
In the healthcare sector, PDO signed three agreements covering workforce development, specialized healthcare facilities, and emergency medical infrastructure.
The company will support the national workforce training program under the Centre of Excellence in Developmental Pediatrics project at the University Medical City. The program qualifies specialized healthcare professionals to support services for children with developmental disorders.
The initiative is expected to create 74 jobs during its first phase, increasing to 129 jobs within three years. It is also expected to reduce patient waiting times and strengthen specialized developmental pediatric services.
PDO also signed a joint financing agreement to establish a new specialized orthopedic clinic at Khoula Hospital. The new facility will replace the existing clinic and increase its annual capacity by more than 40 percent.
In Al Wusta Governorate, the company will finance the construction of a new Accident and Emergency Unit at Al Jazir Hospital. The unit is expected to improve access to emergency healthcare services for residents of the governorate and surrounding villages and will have the capacity to handle more than 1,000 emergency cases annually.
The agreements form part of PDO’s social responsibility program and support projects in education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and youth development.
