Almost 600 young Omanis from Company-sponsored training schemes to work in the oil and gas industry.
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The fifth batch of graduates is the largest in the history of PDO’s National Objectives programme which was launched in 2011 to create employment and training opportunities for jobseekers with the Company’s contractors.
The official graduation ceremony at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel in Muscat took place under the auspices of His Excellency Salim Al Aufi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil and Gas. Her Excellency Dr Muna Al Jardani and His Excellency Hamed Al Hamri, Undersecretaries of the Ministry of Manpower, and other Government representatives were also in attendance.
PDO External Affairs and Value Creation Director Abdul-Amir Abdul-Hussein Al Ajmi said: “This is a landmark moment in PDO’s National Objectives programme and we congratulate all those who have shown the determination and hard work to succeed in their chosen trades.
“All of those who have qualified can now go on to build rewarding careers, support their families and contribute to the goal of sustainable development championed by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
“I would like to thank all those involved in organising and executing these training courses, both at PDO and our external partners, who have gone the extra mile to support these young Omanis and help them on their future path.
“This latest milestone shows how PDO is staying the course on its key strategic goals, not least developing Omani talent and capability and generating meaningful employment opportunities.”
The 596 graduates, aged 18-27, underwent training lasting from 14-18 months with the Technical & Administrative Training Institute (TATI), the National Training Institute and the Rusayl Institute in a variety of technical disciplines including welding, plumbing, rigging, carpentry, scaffolding, instrumentation, sheet metal fabrication, mechanics, and electrics.
They are all certified to the internationally recognised National Vocational Qualification Level Two, and have Edexcel accreditation. Some also qualified to Construction Industry Training Board standard. The men have been offered work with PDO contractors including Bahwan Engineering Company, Al Turki Enterprises, Thomson, Gulf Petrochemical Services, Galfar, Alec, Abraj, Al Tasnim, Carillion Alawi, Heimo and Oman Holdings International.
Since 2011, PDO and its contractors have created more than 22,000 job, training and re-deployment opportunities for Omani jobseekers.
Al Ajmi said: “Our National Objectives programme is based on training jobseekers for skilled positions with low Omanisation levels but a high industry demand, so that they can forge good careers in their chosen area, and work either in the Sultanate or abroad.”
The National Objectives team recently won the silver prize in PDO’s annual Chairman’s Award for Excellence competition, which honours the Company’s top projects.