Muscat – Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has committed to support a host of new projects valued at more than US$2.1mn, which will benefit communities and boost sustainable development across the sultanate.

The initiatives include commitments in the key areas of health, community infrastructure development as well as enhancing the education sector.

Ten memorandums of collaboration (MoCs) confirming these commitments were signed on Tuesday at an official ceremony held under the auspices of H E Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed al Shamsi, Undersecretary of Ministry of Social Development.

To enhance the availability of high-quality medical services across Oman, PDO signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health to fund the construction of an emergency and accidents unit in Maqshan Health Centre.

To encourage the adoption of sports and healthy lifestyles in Oman, PDO is funding the construction of a 2km walkway with planted trees and solar lights in Izki, which will benefit 60,000 people.

In line with the company’s commitment to boost the education sector within its concession area, PDO signed agreements to construct two science labs in the schools of Abu Mudhabi and Shumookh in Haima and Duqm and to fund the construction of a sports hall in Mawred School in Adam. More than 1,000 students in the three schools will benefit from these facilities.

At the signing of the MoCs, Abdul-Amir bin Abdul-Hussein al Ajmi, External Affairs and Value Creation Director at PDO, said, “We are thrilled to kick off the year by following PDO’s long-standing practice of supporting local communities through investments in sustainable development projects. This is just the first of many initiatives we will take up this year to create a better future for our communities.”

PDO has also signed two agreements for Maqshan, one to provide funding for the purchase of vehicles for the Environment Authority in the wilayat and another to provide additional funding for three public majlises in the area.

Additionally, PDO signed agreements to support four NGOs – Ihsan Association in South Batinah, Omani Women’s Association, Al Noor Association for the Blind in Nizwa, and the Omani Association for the Hearing Impaired.