Diplomats visit PDO headquarters

 

By A Staff Reporter 
MUSCAT — Ambassadors from around the world have praised Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) for its contribution to the economic development of the Sultanate during a high-profile visit to the Company’s Mina Al Fahal headquarters.
More than 50 senior foreign diplomats and officials spent over three hours on the fact-finding tour and were given an update on a range of key corporate priorities including health, safety and the environment (HSE), production, project delivery, technology, social investment, training and PDO’s In-Country Value (ICV) strategy to retain more of the oil and gas industry’s wealth in Oman.
Dr Envargik Fazeliynov, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, said: “I was amazed by what I have seen in terms of the support in the social investment sphere, especially in the last 10 years, the role PDO plays in the economic development of Oman and also its use of technology in the oil and gas sector. “We saw people who are not only proud but very happy to work for the Company.
PDO sets a very good example both in terms of its policy and organisation.”
Mohammed Saleh al Shaikh Ali, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain, said: “Every person in Oman and every person in PDO should be very proud of the work that is being done. The application of technology that PDO has made in the exploration, extraction and processing of oil is exemplary.
“I was also very impressed with the vocational training programme that PDO is currently implementing as this is a fundamental part of the social and economic development of Oman. Young Omanis — school leavers and graduates — are trained and sponsored to produce a technical manpower base and this is so essential.”
One aspect which caught the delegation’s attention was the award-winning Nimr Reed Beds project where PDO has created a vast wetland in the desert to successfully cleanse the contaminated water generated during oil production. The area, the size of 640 football pitches, has also become a wildlife habitat for more than 120 species of birds, fish and insects.
Mitzi Gurgel Valente Da Costa, the Ambassador of Brazil, said: “PDO is in the forefront of innovation such as in its treatment of produced water at the Nimr Reed Beds project. The number of and quality of Omani people who are being trained is also very impressive, as well as what PDO is doing on In-Country Value. We are looking at this in Brazil and several people from Oman have visited us and there has already been an exchange of information.”
The group included accredited ambassadors, charges d’affaires, consuls and representatives of international organisations and authorities. During the tour, there was a live link-up with PDO’s Lekhwair cluster using the latest collaborative technology which allows staff in Muscat to share information in real-time with colleagues in the field to increase productivity and tackle any issues.
After the visit to PDO’s headquarters, the distinguished guests had a short tour of PDO’s Trio Centre, comprising the EcOman Centre, the Planetarium and the Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre, where they also enjoyed lunch. The attractions are three of PDO’s Gifts to the Nation given to mark the anniversary of His Majesty’s reign every five years.
PDO Managing Director Raoul Restucci said: “It was a privilege and honour to welcome so many eminent visitors from overseas to our head office so that we could share with them some of the important work we do.
“The international dignitaries were very complimentary about our performance and achievements in areas such as production, training, job creation, social investment, the environment and our use of technology to improve production.
They were also eager to pay tribute to the technical prowess, the work ethic and the pride of our staff.
“The visit was part of our ongoing effort to showcase PDO, increase understanding of our operations and raise awareness of the important contribution we make to Oman.”
A high-level delegation of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also visited PDO two weeks ago.
So far this year, the Company has welcomed a series of official visitors from both at home and abroad, including The Netherlands, Brunei, Belgium and Kenya.