beah, Sohar University complete Industrial Waste Data Inventory project

As part of the academia-industry collaboration in finding solutions for local environmental issues, Oman Environmental Services Holding Co SAOC (be'ah) partnered with Sohar University (SU) to conduct a research consultancy project on Industrial Waste Data Inventory.

The project was awarded to Sohar University through a competitive bidding process floated by be'ah through the Ejaad platform. Prof Rakesh Belwal from the Faculty of Business at Sohar University led the project and a contract in this regard was signed between Prof Barry Winn, Vice-Chancellor of Sohar University, and Eng Tariq al Amri, CEO of be’ah in June 2020.

The project aims to have a solid database of industrial waste generation in the Sultanate. In a recently held ceremony, the project team comprising students and co-investigators led by Prof Belwal was felicitated with certificates and words of appreciation by Eng Abdul Kareem Qasim al Balushi, Sector Head, Industrial Waste and Dr Mohab Ali al Hinai, Head of the Environmental Center of Excellence (ECE) at be’ah headquarters in Muscat. Besides Professor Belwal, the SU team comprised of Dr Shweta Belwal, Dr Manisha Rajhansh Sinha, Ali al Jabri, Fatma al Badi, and Mohammed al Rushdi.

The purpose of this project was to develop a list of active industrial waste-generating industries in the Sultanate of Oman and to acquire data on the quantity and type of industrial waste generated across the country,” said Dr Belwal.

The project covered seven industrial estates - Rusayl, Salalah, Sohar, Sur, Nizwa, Buraimi, and Samayil; three Economic Zones - Al Mazyunah Free Zone, Knowledge Oasis Muscat, Salalah Free Zone, and two Special Economic Zones - Port of Sohar and Duqm. The research was closely facilitated and monitored by be’ah chemists, Amira Mohammed al Moqrashi, Mahra Ali al Balushi, Ahoud Rashid al Maqbali and Tafla Saif al Ruzaiqi.

“It was very challenging to collect data during the Covid-19 time and the Sohar University team did the work fairly well. We thank the entire team for your commitment and dedication,” said Dr Farah al Barwani Research and Development Manager.

Commenting on the project, Amira al Moqrashi, Chemist at be’ah, said: "We strive at be’ah to apply research-proven best practices. This project will enable us to have reliable information and database about the main sources of industrial waste, quantities and different types of the industrial waste as this information are crucial for planning of the waste collection and treatment infrastructure. Our partnership with Sohar University is a true example of how Academia and Industry can work together to find solutions for the environmental challenges facing us today.”