MUSCAT -- National Gas Company, the Sultanate's leading LPG bottling and marketing company, plans to introduce piped cooking gas in Oman's upcoming prestigious tourism projects, The Wave and the Blue City. The company is in discussions with the ministries of oil and gas and commerce and industry to supply piped gas to these mega integrated tourism projects, Shaikh Khalid al Hosni, Chairman of National Gas Company, said yesterday.
"As we embark on a new beginning after playing a key role during the past 25 years as the country's leading LPG bottling and marketing company, National Gas is very hopeful of continuing its pioneering role in different aspects of LPG business, including piped gas and bulk sales. Projects like The Wave and the Blue City offer good economies of scale for launching supply of piped gas.
The government, however, must pitch in with the ministries concerned joining a consortium to launch such projects involving heavy investment which offer economic returns over a 15-year life cycle. Even as talks are in progress with the ministries, an international developer has confirmed participation, besides the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which will also lend support to the project," Shaikh Khalid said. National Gas has ambitious expansion plans.
Inspired by the tremendous growth and trust reposed by customers, projects are on the anvil to go regional and grow out of Oman, Shaikh Khalid said. Abdullah bin Abbas bin Ahmed, Chairman of Muscat Municipality, presided at the 25th anniversary celebrations of National Gas Company at Grand Hyatt Muscat. He launched a new logo characterising the new corporate identity of the company.
The transporting division of National Gas, which boasts the largest LPG tanker fleet in Oman, will also play a major role in improving the company's performance in 2007, Shaikh Khalid said. The division is not only catering to the company's business but also offering services to the government, he said, adding that National Gas will be closely associated with Sohar Refinery in transporting the latter's LPG earmarked for the export market. National Gas, which commands 40 per cent LPG market share in Oman, expects a much improved performance in 2007, Shaikh Khalid said. "On the back of new activities, we expect improved performance of 5 per cent or above in 2007," he added.
Gautam Sen, General Manager, said "this is a proud moment for National Gas Company, which started the first LPG bottling plant in Oman in 1981. The pioneering status of the company is today reflected in other LPG related activities. The continuing growth has been characterised by high safety standards and the largest network of plants and fleet to meet the growing demand in the Sultanate." The company's annual production is pegged at two million cylinders, catering to household as well as industrial customers.
With the Sultanate embarking on a new era of progress, several new initiatives are set to raise the demand for LPG, Sen added. National Gas in co-operation with the Royal Oman Police Civil Defence department has launched a consumer awareness programme offering safety tips to household LPG consumers as well as safety training for the distribution staff, Sen said. Every cylinder of National Gas bears a safely seal and quality assurance tag so that customers can identify National Gas from other products.
As a part of this safety drive, National Gas is launching a big media campaign in addition to road shows to raise consumer safety awareness. Set up 25 years ago to serve the growing demand when Oman was just 11 years into its glorious Renaissance, National Gas has grown manifold to stake claims to be the leader in LPG bottling and marketing in the Sultanate. The foray of National Gas into the aerosol propellant business is a shining example of its commitment to responsible environmental policies. The deodorised LPG it supplies to industries is an eco-friendly substitute for ozone-depleting CFCs, Sen said.
With seven state-of-the-art plants strategically located across the nation, National Gas is at an added advantage of catering to is customers at every nook and corner. All plants are designed as per NFPA-15 (National Fire Protection Association) code and equipped with cutting edge technology to ensure that customers always get good, valid, safe cylinders in exact weights.
The company's operations are carried out in a safe and efficient manner, allowing on-time delivery of LPG products to households, restaurants, residential complexes, hospitals and other commercial establishments. Apart from this, LPG is also distributed to high volume users like hotels, property developers, defence facilities and commercial as well as industrial establishments. National Gas is successfully designing, installing and operating bulk gas system and developing new applications which are cost-effective and value added, Sen said.
By Ebby Chacko George
© Oman Daily Observer 2006
