Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has pledged to support five social investment projects to benefit Omani communities.
The Thumrait Hospital will be expanded with a 14-bed capacity. This will be achieved by adding extra facilities - male and female wards, extra offices and clinics - to the existing emergency and maternity units, as well as essential medical equipment. The facility will serve both the local community and motorists on the Muscat-Salalah road.
PDO will also support the Oman Cancer Association (OCA) for the maintenance and insurance of its mobile mammography unit, which has given free tests to more than 11,000 women from different parts of Oman since it was introduced two years ago.
In addition, PDO has also committed to building a library at the Centre for Teaching Quran Sciences in Samad A’shan in Al Mudhaibi, which teaches Quranic recitation, Islamic values and sciences, Arabic language and calligraphy. The library will include a “PDO Corner” to showcase the Company’s activities, history and publications.
The centre, which was constructed in 2010 to serve the whole country, is being redeveloped and will offer a hall for prayers, lectures and studies, and classrooms. Food and accommodation will also be available for people from outside the wilayat.
PDO will also award the construction of a public majlis in Al Rusais, Izki which will serve the community in various functions such as official, social and youth gatherings.
Finally, the company will fund the purchase of four refrigerated mortuary cabinets and equipment for Shaleem health centre, which was built by PDO and supplied with a number of medical appliances.
Five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) confirming these commitments were signed at an official ceremony at PDO’s Knowledge World Centre, which was attended by guest of honour, His Excellency Salim Al Aufi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil and Gas.
The eminent signatories included H.E. Dr Darwish Al Muharbi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Administrative and Financial Affairs, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Al Balushi, Wali of Izki, Mohammed Saleh Al Shabibi, Head of the Centre for Teaching Quran Services, in the presence of Said Al Nuaimi, Deputy Wali of Al Mudhaibi in Samad Al Shan, and Dr Wahid Al Kharusi, OCA Chairman.
PDO Managing Director Raoul Restucci said: “The signing of these MoUs emphasises PDO’s ongoing commitment to community support.
“Despite the low oil price environment, you can be sure that we will continue to help the communities in which we operate to succeed with targeted social investment in sustainable and beneficial projects.
“The funding addresses specific needs in particular communities and comes after extensive consultation with ministries, non-governmental organisations and residents in both our concession area and beyond.”
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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