BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, March 7
The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology completed the Rusayl-Bidbid Road Expansion Project this week.
The expansion entailed the addition of the third and fourth lanes, and extends from the Rusayl-Nizwa Interchange on the Muscat Expressway to the Al Sharqiyah Expressway Interchange in the Wilayat of Bidbid for 27 kilometres.
According to officials, the expansion was designed to meet the needs of users, and included service roads and pedestrian crossing paths to connect the urban communities on both sides of the road.
Additionally, the project included the expansion of existing valley bridges such as the Wadi Al Jifnain Bridge and the Wadi Fanja Bridge at the town of Al Amqat, and the construction of two new intersections on the Ghala and Al Sih Al Ahmar roads.
Additionally, the project widened the Fanja Interchange and Bidbid Interchange, and included the construction of a new bridge in the Wadi Al Dabun area.
Furthermore, box culverts were constructed to efficiently drain rainwater, and measures were implemented to protect services and other facilities.
CONRAD PRABHU
MUSCAT, March 7
Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the country’s biggest producer of oil and gas, has announced the commissioning of a solar PV project that powers all three of its internal airports in the oil concession areas of the Sultanate of Oman.
The successful commissioning of the PDO Airports Solar PV Installation Project is in line with the company’s “commitment to sustainability”, the majority-state-owned energy producer said in a post.
“Located at Fahud, Marmul and Qarn Alam airports, this ground-mounted, grid-connected system generates 1,227 MWh annually. It not only supplies energy to our airports’ buildings during the daytime, but also reduces CO₂ emissions by 786 tonnes per year,” it added.
Green Universe Enterprise (GUE), a local Omani SME, was contracted by PDO to implement the solar PV plants at the three airports under an award announced in January 2023.
In selecting GUE to undertake the project, PDO said it was guided by the company’s In-Country Value strategy “to support small and medium enterprises in the field of green energy and other sectors”.
Muscat-based Green Universe Enterprise is a leading player in Oman’s small and mid-scale solar PV and green sustainability sector. The SME was founded by well-known entrepreneur Sumaya al Rawahi, who ranks among the first Omani graduates with engineering degrees in renewable energy.
GUE’s clientele includes a number of prestigious public and private sector organisations that are embracing solar and other clean energy alternatives as part of their decarbonisation strategies. The company has also rolled out a financial model that enables clients to fund their projects, thereby making it easier for them to invest in solar power generation.
Financed and built by PDO, the three internal airports at Fahud, Marmul and Qarn Alam are currently operated and managed by Oman Airports in keeping with standards and specifications prescribed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Other domestic and international airports of Oman have also chalked out plans to decarbonise their operations through investments in solar power generation or clean energy sources.
On Wednesday, an Indian hydrogen-tech firm announced that it has secured a contract from an airport in the Sultanate of Oman to set up an electrolyser designed to provide zero-carbon renewable hydrogen to power part of its operations. The pilot-scale 1 MW alkaline electrolyser, integrated with fuel cells, will produce green hydrogen to light up the airport, said an official of Gujarat-based Greenzo Energy Pvt Ltd.
Oman Airports has also instituted a carbon management programme to help gradually reduce the carbon footprint of its Muscat, Salalah and Duqm airports.
Muscat International Airport received a Green Airports Recognition in 2020 from Airports Council International (ACI) for its contribution towards achieving a sustainable airport environment.
BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, March 7
The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn) organised a dialogue session on Oman Vision 2040, on Thursday, March 7, 2024, under the auspices of Sayyid Dr Munther bin Hilal al Busaidi, Deputy Head of the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, and in the presence of Eng Dawood bin Salim al Hadabi, CEO of Madayn.
Speaking at the event, Ahmed al Hinai, Director of Oman Vision 2040 Follow-Up Office at Madayn, stated that Oman Vision 2040 stands as a cornerstone of economic and social planning for the country for the 2021 to 2040 timeframe.
“Initiated under the visionary leadership of the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and advanced by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, stemming from this vision are sectoral strategies and five-year development plans,” Al Hinai said, adding: “Madayn has developed the Madayn Vision 2040 to synchronise seamlessly with Oman Vision 2040.
“This was achieved through an analysis of priorities and national strategies to outline the institutional strategies and objectives for achieving the national goals.”
Al Hinai emphasised that Madayn Vision 2040 is geared towards elevating the Sultanate of Oman’s competitiveness in attracting and localising foreign and local investments, boosting the manufacturing sector, increasing Omani exports, generating job opportunities, and enhancing comprehensive economic and social development across the governorates. The vision revolves around creating world class business cities with Omani identity while fostering public-private partnerships.
Eng Harib al Busaidi, Director-General at the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, delivered a presentation detailing the Unit’s role in overseeing the implementation of the vision, including its objectives, outcomes, and the performance of bodies responsible for its realisation.
He emphasised on the Unit’s role in supporting these bodies, creating an enabling environment, enhancing partnerships, and monitoring services provided to the public, with the ultimate objective to ensure successful implementation of the vision.
Abbas al Lawati, Investment Director at the Oman National Programme for Investment and Exports Development (Nazdaher), presented an overview of the programme, highlighting that Nazdaher aims to boost national efforts to attract investments in non-oil sectors into the Sultanate.
“The programme aims to make Oman a competitive investment destination by strengthening partnerships with local and international businesses, focusing on developing investment strategies, addressing challenges and recommending sustainable solutions, expediting project implementation, and harmonising between public and private sectors to achieve an integrated investment system,” Al Lawati added. Discussions that followed revolved around Madayn’s ongoing projects aligned with Oman Vision 2040.
The deliberations also underscored the Unit’s efforts in monitoring the implementation of Oman Vision 2040, as well as Nazdaher’s initiatives to achieve the vision across various sectors.
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