Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) today (21 December) pledged funding of around RO 500,000 to a variety of social investment projects to benefit the community.
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The Company signed 17 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with a range of municipal authorities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for infrastructure, equipment and financial support.
The agreements will pave the way for two public majlises in Barbazom and Dhahboon in wilayat Thumrait, a water well and accessories in Wadi Arah in wilayat Shaleem, a slaughterhouse in Hamra Adduru’a and two underground water channels (Falaj) in Ibri. PDO is also funding additional infrastructure at Shaleem Hospital.
In addition, the Company is funding a package of measures to help NGOs, including special wheelchairs for the Oman Association for the Disabled, and equipment for the Omani Society for the Hearing Impaired.
Other NGOs to benefit are the Al Hayat Association, Early Intervention Association, Oman Alzheimer’s Society, Hereditary Blood Disorder Association, Oman Diabetes Association, Children First Association, Oman Down Syndrome Association, Environment Society of Oman and the Omani Women Association in Al Hamra. PDO also pledged to give further support to women from low-income backgrounds through its Banat Oman social enterprise which funds vocational training.
The agreements confirming these commitments were signed at an official ceremony at PDO’s Knowledge World Centre under the auspices of HE Sheikh Ali bin Nasser Al Mahrouqi, Secretary-General of Majlis A'Shura.
The eminent signatories included His Excellency Almunther bin Ahmed Al Marhoon, Wali of Thumrait, H.E. Mohamed Berham Ba Omer, Wali of Shaleem and Sheikh Hamed Sultan Al Busaidi, Assistant Wali of Ibri in Hamra Adduru’a.
PDO Managing Director Raoul Restucci said: “PDO is committed to supporting Omani communities with targeted social investment to address specific needs.
“These latest MoUs will bring direct benefit to a number of people and good causes across the Sultanate and show that, even in a low oil price environment, we are staying the course on our corporate social responsibility programme.”
PDO also pledged a number of smaller investments through its Grants and Donations Committee, including to Riyada (the Public Authority for SME Development) and the Oman Astronomical Society.
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Note to editors: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is the major exploration and production company in the Sultanate. It accounts for about 70% of the country's crude-oil production and nearly all of its natural-gas supply. The Company is owned by the Government of Oman (which has a 60% interest), the Shell Group (which has a 34% interest), Total (which has a 4% interest) and Partex (which has a 2% interest). Gas fields and processing plants are operated by PDO exclusively on behalf of the Government.
For further information please contact the PDO External Affairs Directorate:
Karima Farid Al Shahaibi,
Media Relations Advisor,
Tel: 2467-7756