Oman Shell and SQU partner to research agricultural development in the Al-Batinah region

Muscat: Oman Shell and Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) signed an agreement to conduct research that aims to find viable solutions to address soil salinity across Al-Batinah region.

The increase in the soil salinity of this region is due to reasons such as seawater intrusion along with salt accumulation as a result of high temperatures and low rainfall.

With the main objective of decreasing salt contamination of agriculture soils, Shell will provide samples of Special-S (a sulphur fertilizer produced using Shell Thiogro technology) with the SQU research team. This product will be evaluated to determine its effectiveness in remediating saline-soils through soil acidification.

Dr. Daniel Blackburn, Project Leader from the Department of Soils, Water and Agricultural Engineering of Sultan Qaboos University said, “The salt contamination of agriculture soils on the Al-Batinah region has been a real agricultural challenge, reducing farm yields and profitability, and in extreme cases, forcing farmers to abandon their lands. Our collaboration with Oman Shell represents a fantastic public-private partnership directed at community wellbeing, as we believe that the use of Special-S will provide continuous Sulphur and nitrogen nutrition to crops. This product will aid directly on the reclamation programs of salt affected soils, helping to leach the excess of sodium salts, whilst decreasing soil alkalinity and improving plant nutrition. With this technology, we hope to give a substantial contribution to the sustainable management of Omani soils and to the country’s food security.”

Oman Shell’s Country Chairman Walid Hadi said, “Soil salinity is an increasing concern for the Al-Batinah region. We are working together with SQU to conduct critical research that we hope will be a big contributor to a productive and sustainable agricultural sector.” He added, “We are eager to work with the brilliant minds in SQU to meet this real-life challenge facing this industry.”

Over one agricultural cycle between November 2019 to April 2020, the research will be conducted at the Agricultural Experiment Station of Sultan Qaboos University before a final technical report is produced with key findings and next steps. The report will incorporate the extent of feedback between the Special-S amendment application and the availability and uptake of other plant nutrients. It will also include recommendations for further sets of experiments and analyses for subsequent years based on key findings.

-ENDS-

About Shell in Oman

Shell is active in Oman across the oil and gas industry and is involved in joint venture and independent activities ranging from research and development, exploration and production to trading and retail.

Shell has been a partner in Oman’s remarkable development and progress over the last several decades. In Shell, we have been providing pioneering technologies and expertise in the energy industry and creating value for the community of which we proudly are a member of.

For more information about Shell in Oman, visit http://www.shell.com.om or follow @Shell_Oman. 

For media enquiries contact:

Mr. Nureddin Wefati
Head of Media Relations for Middle East & North Africa
Shell EP International
Tel: +97147055347
Cell: +971562162409
Nureddin.Wefati@Shell.com 

Mr. Hassan Almarashi
Spokesperson Middle East & North Africa
Shell EP International Ltd
Tel:   +9714 705 5783
Cell: +97156 226 0924
Hassan.Almarashi@shell.com 

Sudipta Dasgupta

Senior Media Relations Executive

TRACCS

Telephone: +968 24649099

Mobile: +968 94558787

Email: sudipta.dasgupta@traccs.net 

Cautionary note

The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this press release “Shell”, “Shell group” and “Royal Dutch Shell” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Royal Dutch Shell plc and subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this press release refer to entities over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to as “joint ventures” and “joint operations”, respectively. Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as “associates”. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

This press release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “aim”, “ambition’, ‘‘anticipate’’, ‘‘believe’’, ‘‘could’’, ‘‘estimate’’, ‘‘expect’’, ‘‘goals’’, ‘‘intend’’, ‘‘may’’, ‘‘objectives’’, ‘‘outlook’’, ‘‘plan’’, ‘‘probably’’, ‘‘project’’, ‘‘risks’’, “schedule”, ‘‘seek’’, ‘‘should’’, ‘‘target’’, ‘‘will’’ and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell’s 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018 (available at www.shell.com/investor  and www.sec.gov ). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward looking statements contained in this press release and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, 7 October 2019. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this press release that United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov . 

© Press Release 2019