PDO to spend half a million riyal in social development projects

Muscat: The Sultanate’s national oil company, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), has pledged to invest OMR500,000 in social investment projects to benefit the Omani community.
The majority state-owned oil firm signed 17 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with municipal authorities and non-government organisations (NGOs) to help develop infrastructure, equipment and provide financial support.
The agreements will pave the way for two public majlises in Barbazom and Dhahboon in wilayat Thumrait, a water well and accessories in Wadi Arah in wilayat Shaleem, a slaughterhouse in Hamra Adduru’a and two underground water canals (Falaj) in Ibri. The PDO is also funding additional infrastructure at the Shaleem Hospital.
In addition, the company is funding a package of measures to help NGOs, including granting assistance in the form of special wheelchairs to the Oman Association for the Disabled, and equipment for the Omani Society for the Hearing Impaired.
Other NGOs to benefit are the Al Hayat Association, Early Intervention Association, Oman Alzheimer’s Society, Hereditary Blood Disorder Association, Oman Diabetes Association, Children First Association, Oman Down Syndrome Association, Environment Society of Oman and the Omani Women Association in Al Hamra. The PDO also pledged to give further support to women from low-income backgrounds through its Banat Oman social enterprise which funds vocational training.
The agreements confirming these commitments were signed at an official ceremony at PDO’s Knowledge World Centre under the auspices of H.E. Sheikh Ali bin Nasser Al Mahrouqi, Secretary-General of Majlis A'Shura.
The eminent signatories includedAlmunther bin Ahmed Al Marhoon, Wali of Thumrait, Mohamed Berham Ba Omer, Wali of Shaleem and Sheikh Hamed Sultan Al Busaidi, Assistant Wali of Ibri in Hamra Adduru’a.
PDO Managing Director Raoul Restucci said: “The PDO is committed to supporting Omani communities with targeted social investment to address specific needs.”
“These latest MoUs will bring direct benefit to a number of people and good causes across the Sultanate and show that, even in a low oil price environment, we are staying the course on our corporate social responsibility programme.”
The PDO also pledged a number of smaller investments through its Grants and Donations Committee, including to Riyada (the Public Authority for SME Development) and the Oman Astronomical Society.