PDO signs contracts with Omani companies

The deals were signed on Tuesday by PDO managing director Raoul Restucci and senior executives of the community-owned firms at an official ceremony at the company’s Knowledge World building.

Three of the companies are Omani manufacturing startups and were established in line with PDO’s drive to implement the In-Country Value (ICV) Blueprint Strategy for the oil and gas industry announced in 2013 to create more jobs, training, commercial and investment opportunities for national businesses.

Restucci said, “These contracts are further testament to our strong and abiding commitment to ICV to spread the wealth of our industry throughout the wider community. The investment will support and create jobs for Omanis and help to strengthen local supply chains in terms of the provision of vital services for our operations.

“Each of the signatory companies has demonstrated their capability and capacity to deliver work safely, professionally and efficiently,” he added.

Three five-year contracts were signed with Oman Flanges Production, Solid Earth and Gulf Fasteners, which are newly established small and medium enterprises (SMEs) located in Nizwa, Barka and Rusail, respectively.

The agreements will be for the production of flanges, which connect pipes, valves, pumps and other equipment to form a piping system, and fasteners, such as nuts and bolts, and should create more than 50 job opportunities.

Such moves to localise manufacturing are fundamental to the implementation of the ICV Blueprint document unveiled by the Ministry of Oil and Gas for operators almost six years ago.

Another contract – which will run to the end of May 2023 – is with local community contractor (LCC) Sahwat Haima for the provision of personnel commuting services to and from accommodation camps, local villages and Marmul Airport in South Oman.

PDO also signed two contracts – which will run to the end of November 2020 – with LCCs Sana’a Desert Trading and Murtafaat Shaleem Trading & Contracting to provide manpower.

These deals will create more than 200 jobs for Omanis in the North and South of PDO’s concession area.

Two other deals were sealed with super local community contractors (SLCC) Al Shawamikh Oil Services and LCC Al Ghalbi International Engineering and Contracting to carry out maintenance work on the Main Oil Line in Central and North Oman, respectively. The agreements –which will run until November 2022 – will cover protective coating work on key pipelines.