In its continuous efforts to promote Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in the Sultanate, Oman LNG signed yesterday a contract with a local SME for the provision of transport and caretaker services to the country’s gas liquefaction flagship.
The agreement, signed during the Business Opportunities Forum, commits Shaheen Sur Trading to providing school buses, drivers and caretakers to Oman LNG for a period of five years. As many as 64 jobs will be created for Omanis as a result of this agreement. In addition, the pact will enable the SME to embrace HSE and other international standards.
Through its contracts, procurement and logistics, Oman LNG has extended its portfolio to establish a vigorous business environment for SME operating in Sur including dedication of a number of contracts for SME only. In addition, Oman LNG regularly participates in events and exhibition set to support business opportunities for SME and considers those events as a two-way communication highway to interact with SME’s to address their challenges and establish approaches to support them.
Generating in-country value (ICV) is one of the major ways Oman LNG contributes to the growth and development of the economy. By doing business with local Omani companies, Oman LNG is supporting the capability of these enterprises to in turn develop citizens, broaden the scope of their businesses and build their capacities to add greater value.
Due to the nature of Oman LNG business, the scope of some contracts are complex and multi-discipline, with the resultant loss in competitiveness due to the non-participation of local and Omani tenderers. To mitigate these potential negative effects, while attempting to obtain best value for Oman LNG, initiatives have been put in place to ‘unbundle’ some contracts to ensure local participation in specific aspects of the contracts, along with sourcing of manpower from the local community, and additional initiatives to train local manpower to the required competence level.
Besides these, Oman LNG is working in partnership with the government, peer oil and gas companies, Opal, suppliers, vendors and contractors as well as local communities to enhance the in-country value of the Oman LNG project. For instance, Oman LNG is a member of the Oil and Gas ICV Committee, chaired by the under secretary of Oil and Gas.
