Oman LNG documentary – From Strength to Strength – Part Three

Transcript

In the third part of our documentary with Oman LNG, we learn how Oman LNG gives back to the Omani people through its wide range of corporate social responsibility projects.

We are serialising our new documentary series on Oman and its liquefied natural gas industry throughout this week. Please subscribe to our channel to get notifications of each new episode as it goes live.

World Finance: Oman LNG is a vital company for Oman. The liquefied natural gas sector creates wealth, employment, and is helping to diversify the economy.

But what really embeds the company in the heart and soul of the country is its social investment programme – an integral part of Oman LNG, and Oman.

Beyond its direct contribution to government coffers, Oman LNG dedicates 1.5 percent of its income after tax to a number of CSR initiatives: such as this, the Institute for the Blind, where the company supplies learning equipment such as brail typewriters and computers.

The school, based in Seeb, Muscat, is run by the education ministry, and looks after more than 150 children, ranging from six to 16 years old. It also offers education for adults.

Oman LNG started working with the institute in 2007, as part of the company’s efforts to improve the quality of life for people in the Sultanate.

Over the last seven years, the company has donated over $100,000 in equipment and education software to help with language skills.

Another beneficiary of Oman LNG’s social investment is the Al-Rahma team charity in Muscat.

The team distributes emergency aid and everyday necessities such as medical supplies, food, blankets and clothing to Oman’s poor and needy.

The charity’s new van is thanks to Oman LNG.

Adel Al-Moslahi, Volunteer, Al Rahman Team Charity: It started in 2007 – this cyclone hit Oman, its name was Gonu. In that time it was about four or five people. But after the cyclone, many volunteers came to help. So from that time it’s become bigger and bigger until now: now we’ve been operating about seven years, and we have more than 1,000 people who help here.

The truck helps us to give clothes, and also to provide furniture, and everything we do to help people, to their houses. So this truck will help us to provide these things to the door of poor people.

World Finance: Oman LNG’s social investment covers a broad range of projects, including conservation, preservation of historic buildings, and charities of all descriptions.

As well as supporting projects in Muscat, Oman LNG invests heavily in Sur, where its gas plant is based.

The Sunaysilah Castle is just one example of the company’s work in historical preservation. The 300 year old stone and sarooj structure is being renovated, thanks to Oman LNG.

The impressive four-towered castle overlooks most of the city, including the marina, where another initiative is funded.

The Oman Sail School gives local children the opportunity to enjoy Oman’s beautiful coastline. Although Sur is traditionally a fishing town, many children would not have the chance to sail without Oman LNG’s donations of boats, safety equipment, and training courses for the school’s instructors.

Nawal Alghadan, Chief Instructor, Oman Sail School: Oman LNG, they make a lot of things that are good for us. So this is like a new sport in Oman, and they help us to show everybody here what sailing is. And it’s going to be more important for them to know, because their fathers and grandfathers were sailors before them. So it’s to keep this sport in Oman.

World Finance: For centuries, people in Sur built their lives around the location’s coastal waters, with fishing the main industry in the city.

This is the old fish market. Every morning, fishermen from the region and beyond come to sell their catch of the day. Fishermen, locals, and restaurant owners have been trading like this for decades – if not centuries.

Preserving this kind of cultural heritage can be just as important as preserving ancient architecture.

Sur’s shipbuilding industry is another way that Oman’s history meets the modern day.The sambuk and ghanjah – types of dhow that sailed as far as China – have been built in this city for over 1,000 years.

Today the city has retained its reputation as a major shipbuilding town. The very same vessels that were used for trade so long ago are now sold to Qatar for the tourism industry.

Although the city is relatively small, with a population of just over 71,000 people, the effect of Oman LNG’s CSR initiatives are big.

The company even promotes entrepreneurship, and has partnered with the Ministry of Manpower to support training for employment in other sectors – which has provided long-term employment for more than 1,400 people.

Abdullah Al Sinani, Lead HR Officer, Oman LNG: This is the learning and development centre, and we are proud to be one of the best employers in Oman, in terms of learning and development.

The company allocated a budget of around $6m for learning and development this year. Our Omanisation reached more than 90 percent, and this ensures that proper learning and development is in place.

World Finance: Omanisation – the practice of training Omani people to take on the roles traditionally dominated by ex-pats – is another example of how working for the good of the nation is at the heart of Oman LNG.

Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Rumhy, Minister of Oil and Gas, Oman: LNG has contributed more than we expected to the country. The social contribution, human resource development… Oman LNG is a very well-respected organisation by the public, by our foreign partners, all stakeholders to be honest with you. And within the oil and gas industry in the country it’s playing a huge, huge contribution to the development of Oman.

World Finance: And one of Oman LNG’s largest social investments has been improving the health of the nation.

Dr Mohammad Ibrahim Alfarsi, Executive Director, Sur General Hospital: We are proud of Oman LNG for supporting this hospital from the beginning. It’s of great benefit to the community.