Muscat – Committing to new social investment projects, valued at over US$1.8mn, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) signed four memoranda of cooperation targeting public health, education and transportation safety in the sultanate on Wednesday.

These projects are geared towards enhancing the welfare of communities across Oman.

The signing ceremony was presided over by H E Mohsin bin Hamad al Hadhrami, Undersecretary of Ministry of Energy and Minerals. He highlighted the ministry’s continuous efforts to inspire energy companies in Oman to contribute towards local community enhancement projects.

One of the key agreements is with the Ministry of Health, under which PDO will finance the development of a new maternity and neonatal ward in Bahla Hospital. This addition aims to improve the standard of healthcare available to the wilayat, reflecting the growing demand for such services in Bahla and the broader Dakhliyah governorate.

In an endeavor to strengthen the education sector within its concession areas, PDO has partnered with the Ministry of Education through two memoranda. The first involves funding the construction of extra classrooms in Al Habbi School in Bahla. The second agreement supports a defensive driving training programme for school bus drivers throughout the country in collaboration with Royal Oman Police. The initiative is designed to mitigate school bus-related accidents, ensuring the safe transportation of students to and from schools.

Another key project includes a collaboration with Dhahirah Municipality to partially fund the establishment of a central slaughterhouse in Ibri, which will elevate the governorate’s food safety and hygiene standards.

Steve Phimster, Managing Director of PDO, stated these agreements would benefit Omani citizens and align with PDO’s commitment to sustainable development and value maximisation.

Abdul Hameed al Ajmi, Executive Director of External Affairs and Value Creation at PDO, emphasised that the company adheres to strict criteria when assessing the viability of proposed projects, ensuring their potential for maximum community benefit.