SHELL WINS OPAL AWARDS FOR BEST PRACTICE IN SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Shell Development Oman won the
2018 OPAL Award for Best Practice in the Small Business Development category for “Solar into Schools” project. The prize-winning project centred on fostering Omani solar Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), to build a platform for renewable energy that can contribute to Oman’s energy future. Hosted by the Oman Society for Petroleum Services (OPAL), the highly anticipated annual event recognises innovation, excellence and best practice standards focusing around areas of critical importance to the industry.
Accepting the awards on behalf of Shell Development Oman, country director Chris Breeze said, “I am very grateful we have received this award, which recognises our “Solar into Schools” initiative as a way to contribute towards Oman’s energy industry and economy through growth and development of
Solar SMEs. As Shell’s 5th Gift to the Nation, we are proud to deliver this first-of-its-kind project that reflects our dedication to put clean energy into classrooms and have a long-term impact on the environment and financial market of the country. To date, this project has supported in enhancing the lives of over 1,000 people; this is a good indicator that Shell Development Oman has the right tools to manage this large scale project and is on track to achieving its goal to have 22 operational solar schools in the Sultanate in the next five years”. He added, “Together with governments and society, Shell has a global role to play in facilitating the energy transition away from high carbon intensity. The company is engaged in the effort to help reduce emissions and this is why we are involved in building a nationwide network of solarin-to-schools throughout Oman, in a way that brings benefits to society.”
Launched in 2016, the Solar into Schools project aims to encourage the development of the Small-Medium Enterprise sector in Oman, and to create an environmentally and economically sustainable solar market that will lead to future innovations and entrepreneurial opportunities within the field of energy transition.