MUSCAT: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) signed 11 funding agreements, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to sustainable development and national capacity building. The agreements, valued at approximately RO 830,000, span critical sectors including education, healthcare, community infrastructure and environment.
Commenting on the signing, Eng Mohammed bin Ali al Aghbari, External Affairs, Government Relations and Communications Manager at PDO, stated: “These agreements reinforce PDO’s firm dedication to delivering long-term social value and nurturing strong, purposeful collaborations with national organisations to support sustainable development. The community initiatives sponsored by the company reflect its clear awareness of its societal role and its responsibility to support people’s progress and enhance their wellbeing, in alignment with Oman Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030”.
PDO’s new agreements include major national environmental initiatives with the Environment Authority, most notably the launch of the national soil testing programme, which will establish the country’s first soil code to support sustainable industrial planning and environmental protection.
PDO will additionally fund the Environmental Accelerator Programme to create Oman’s first centre for environmental and climate innovation, enabling SMEs and startups to develop practical green solutions and contribute to a knowledge-based, environmentally responsible economy.
To further advance social development, PDO will support the delivery of electrical inspector and electrical safety training programmes at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) in Al Musannah to help build a pool of nationally licenced inspectors. The company will also equip sensory stimulation rooms across several Al Wafa centres to enhance support for people with disabilities, in addition to funding the fourth edition of the Green Schools National Programme, which will benefit 120 schools across the Sultanate of Oman.
PDO will also co-fund the renovation of the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Centre at UTAS Al Musannah and establish fully equipped computer laboratories in three schools in Al Wusta Governorate, strengthening digital learning environments and expanding research and technology skills among Omani youth.
PDO will also fund mobile planetariums to bring astronomy and space science experiences to students in nine governorates and provide mammogram equipment to strengthen breast cancer early detection services across the Sultanate of Oman.
In addition to these education, health and environmental initiatives, PDO will invest in key community infrastructure projects aimed at improving the quality of life across local communities.
These include the construction of a public park in Demeet in the Wilayat of Shaleem and Al Hallaniyat Islands, serving neighbouring villages and encouraging healthier lifestyles, as well as the provision of mobile veterinary clinics to support livestock owners across Al Wusta.
The signing event also highlighted the completion in 2025 of 25 Social Investment (SI) projects worth more than RO 9.5 million, marking another milestone in PDO’s ongoing contribution to sustainable community development across Oman.
The event also featured the graduation ceremony of Banat Oman, where 29 women celebrated their successful completion of the programme. Launched in 2014, Banat Oman is one of PDO’s flagship social investment initiatives aimed at empowering women with the skills, training and confidence needed to enter the job market and contribute actively to their communities.
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