PDO has installed many solar power systems for a variety of uses, including street lights, charging batteries, and powering control panels and instrumentation

SOLAR energy is slowly becoming more common in Oman, as more companies, organisations, schools and private users opt for renewable energy that can save them money in the long run. As early as 1991, big companies like Omantel and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) began installing small-scale solar power systems, taking advantage of Oman’s abundant sunshine.

The contract is part of PDO’s strategy to support local contractors while awarding deals for the oil company’s projects

PETROLEUM Development Oman (PDO) has signed a deal with one of five super Local Community Contractors (LCCs), which were lately formed to improve development in communities living in company’s concession area.

The company’s total installed LNG capacity is 10.4 million tonnes per year, running through three trains, each with capacity of 3.4 mtpy

OMAN LNG expects to lift liquefied natural gas (LNG) production as much as a fifth by sometime in 2016 or 2017, allowing it to tap into its spare capacity and boost exports, a top company official says.

The national oil company of Oman says it is planning a multi-year appraisal programme to define the extent and distribution of untapped crude in still prospective areas of its decades-old onshore concession in the sultanate

OMAN’S state-led oil group Petroleum Development Oman is confident it will continue finding sufficient new oil reserves to maintain crude output at roughly 550,000 bpd in the coming years, a senior company executive says.

In the sultanate, which has huge shale formations, a number of oilfield companies are currently exploring for shale plays as part of their routine exploration activities

OMAN is keen to attract international oil companies to evaluate and develop its untapped, yet potentially prodigious, shale gas resources, according to a top official of the Ministry of Oil and Gas. Nasser bin Khamis al Jashmi, under-secretary, says international investment could help unearth, explore and exploit the sultanate’s shale gas potential.

In the current development phase, which started in 2005, the partners aim to drill more than 2,000 production wells, using steam-flooding to ramp up production

OMAN’S Mukhaizna heavy oil project is producing about 120,000 bpd and remains economic, even though it has required twice as many wells to extract the oil as originally estimated, a senior Total executive says.

The move into the downstream sector could allow the country to follow in the footsteps of Bahrain

THE construction of a 230,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery in the city of Duqm, Oman, should help Muscat secure its position as a net products exporter. The establishment of a new downstream hub, combined with the construction of a new harbour in the same city, could help the country break into the liquids bulk market. Worries over ballooning costs, which are still in line with regional norms, are likely to be negated by the numerous advantages offered by this plan.

The rise in the number of competitors has made the bidding process very challenging and competitive thus pushing down the profit margins, VINOD SHAH, managing director, Mott MacDonald Oman tells K S SREEKUMAR

GLOBAL management, engineering and development consultancy Mott MacDonald is confident about the firm’s prospects in Oman where it has been recently appointed by the Phoenix Power Company for the construction of the largest-ever power station in the sultanate.

The paints’ major is well poised to leverage its specialities in high performance corrosion, fire, concrete protection and decoration segments across Oman’s oil and gas players and has set its target to meet a revenue growth of 10 to 12 per cent

OMAN’S oil and gas segment is a small market compared to its neighbouring countries in the GCC region, which are blessed with massive resources. However, the picturesque country has significant upstream growth potential as demonstrated by its openness to foreign investment and the peaceful socio economic environment. A recent report from Business Monitor International (BMI), forecasts that the country’s proven oil reserves will rise from 5.5 billion barrels in 2011 to 5.9 barrels in 2014. Adding to this is the expressed exploratory interests of a large number of smaller independent oil companies, particularly across the development of limited oil and gas reserves.

Hi-Force, the global high pressure hydraulic tools provider, has continued with its expansion in 2012

HI-FORCE, the UK headquartered, global high pressure hydraulic tools provider has continued with its ambitious expansion plans throughout 2011 and into 2012 and beyond.

The $15 billion-$20 billion project is on schedule to be sanctioned in the middle of next year if the company decides to move forward with full field development

BP HAS restarted test production at its prospective 1 billion cubic foot per day nonassociated tight gas development in Oman, country manager Daniel Blanchard says. A handful of issues with corrosion in the export line, and at the compression plant and the wellhead, had shut in test flows on May 2, he says.

MEFC offers cost effective fibre optic cable designs and quick delivery

MIDDLE East Fiber Cable Mfg Co (MEFC) is a Saudi–Japanese (Fujikura) partnership company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. MEFC was established in 1995 to produce fibre optic cables to meet the growing demands of the fibre optic cables market in the Middle East and worldwide. In a very short time, MEFC achieved excellence in quality and gained market share in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) markets. Based on its quality, performance and commitment, MEFC gained trust and approval of major customers and won many prestigious projects in the Gulf and the Mena region.