PDO signs agreements with two universities
The collaboration will support PDO’s effort to boost incountry value by advancing academic and vocational development and increasing the share of the oil and gas industry’s wealth retained in Oman.
MUSCAT: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has signed Research and Development (R&D) agreements with the Sohar and Al Sharqiyah universities to help resolve some of its complex technical challenges.
It is hoped the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) will help PDO further develop its competitive delivery by reducing costs, increasing production and reserves, while operating in a safer and greener environment, according to a PDO release.
At the same time, the collaboration deals will support PDO’s effort to boost In-Country Value by advancing academic and vocational development and increasing the share of the oil and gas industry’s wealth retained in Oman.
PDO will fund the universities to assist it in three key areas: enhanced oil recovery, water management and energy efficiency and security, the latter by encouraging renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies.
It will also work together to encourage Omani small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs to carry out their basic technological research, testproof their conceptual thoughts and innovative ideas and develop early-stage technology in the universities’ laboratories prior to any potential future commercial agreements.
Technology centres
PDO will assist with the establishment of technology centres at both universities. Its own experts will be given access to these research hubs and run and develop teaching programmes.
The agreements will run for three years and also pave the way for PDO staff to enrol in BSc, MSc and PhD degrees and other courses at the universities.
Additionally, PDO and the academic institutions will exchange best practices on Health, Safety and Environment, lean efficiency programmes and governance frameworks.The company will also become a member of the universities’ advisory boards.
The MoUs were signed by Prof. Barry Winn, Sohar University’s vice chancellor, Prof. Fouad Chedid, deputy vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at Al Sharqiyah University and PDO External Affairs and Value Creation Director, Abdul-Amir Al Ajmi.
“Petroleum Development Oman is working hard to establish technology clusters across Oman with key research partners, who can help us to address some of our key challenges,” said Al Ajmi.