Oman LNG and Oman Oil join hands to support training of Omani workforce

Muscat: Oman LNG and Oman Oil Company (OOC), the government's investment arm in the energy and energy-related sectors, have entered into a multi-year partnership to support the professional training and careers development of the Omani workforce.
The unique collaboration is a consolidation of efforts and dedication toward staff development and capacity building, where both entities will exchange their staff in various disciplines within the oil and gas industry.
The agreement underpins both companies’ unremitting efforts to develop employees by deploying various types of educational opportunities and on-the-job training that would lead to the effective training and skills development of the staff, thereby investing in human capital and ultimately enriching the Sultanate’s manpower.
The accord stipulates that Oman LNG and Oman Oil will provide opportunities for their respective employees who will be temporarily assigned by means of a ‘secondment’ to each other’s businesses. Based on the agreement, there will be two types of assignments; short-term, ranging from 3 to 12 months and long-term, from 1 to 4 years. The flexibility of the duration gives staff better prospects to benefit from the programme.
The ultimate goal is to nurture staff development bolstering their skills in different working environments and cater for the Sultanate’s growing needs for specialised and skilled workforce.
By deploying the secondment programme at facilities within Oman in support of Ministry of Ministry of Oil and Gas directives, the programme will not only develop Omani youth locally but simultaneously contribute to in-country value, an added benefit.
Additionally, the programme enhances the opportunity for women to develop their careers as the assignments allow them to maintain their locality, which is a fundamental objective of both entities in providing equal opportunities for both women and men.
After signing the agreement, the women employees can apply for secondment opportunities in Oman and have full exposure to the other working environments, mitigating the concerns of regional and overseas secondment opportunities.
The current energy landscape is ever-changing, requiring energy companies to adopt the most efficient practices to remaining reliable suppliers to their customers. Keeping abreast to these developments, companies, working in the oil and gas sector, continue to invest in the learning and development of staff who are their most valuable asset and form the bedrock of the overall success of many oil and gas companies operating in the Sultanate, such as Oman LNG and Oman Oil.
The acquisition of specialised skills by the Omani population in any sector of the economy is critical to the growth and development of Oman. It will ensure that the country’s citizens are well-equipped and largely self-sufficient to further grow the economy of the Sultanate.
The agreement was signed by Harib Al Kitani, chief executive officer of Oman LNG, and Isam Al Zadjali, chief executive officer of Oman Oil.
“We continue to press forward with staff development and progression. Our collaboration with our partners in the industry supports staff development to reach their full potential which builds a strong foundation to deliver in-country value,” said Harib Al Kitani. “We welcome more collaborations on similar activities with Oman Oil and other industry partners”.
Commenting on this initiative, Eng. Isam AL Zidjali, chief executive officer of OOC said, “the OOC always seek to partner with large corporations like Oman LNG to provide best training opportunities in order to improve Omani talents. OOC conducted the programme to ensure employees’ engagement and interaction with latest technologies and industry experts. In addition, the programme intended to ensure that our staff are equipped with best practices and knowledge to contribute towards the future of the local Omani economy.”
“We would like to express our sincere thanks to Oman LNG for supporting this unique programme and looking forward for more collaboration in the future,” he added.