INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology
New PDO Majlis discusses
energy management
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P
etroleum Development Oman (PDO)
has launched a new public stakeholder
engagement event to debate and
consider solutions to important issues facing
the sultanate.
The inaugural PDO Majlis session, which was
sponsored by His Excellency Talal Al Rahbi,
Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme
Council for Planning, focused on the topic of
energy management.
The interactive panel debate and question
and answer session covered areas such as
the current situation in Oman and the Gulf
Co-operation Council (GCC) region, project
planning in PDO and the sultanate, and how
the country can reposition itself to meet
future challenges.
More than 150 people including key public
and private sector decision makers, oil and
gas industry professionals, entrepreneurs,
academics, researchers and students
attended the event held at the PDO Learning
and Development Centre at Mina Al Fahal.
Guest speakers included PDO Oil South
Director Sami Baqi and Dr Mehdi Jaffer,
an independent consultant on sustainable
development. The forum was moderated by
PDO’s Harweel Production Co-ordinator, Dr
Wali Al Harrasi.
The panellists discussed the need to invest
in renewables so that in excess of 10% of
Oman’s total energy generated by 2025
could be sourced from solar and wind; one
of the proposed policies of the Tanfeedh
programme on enhancing economic
diversification, as well as to focus more on
applied practical research.
The general consensus was that the current
‘business-as-usual’ scenario needed to
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INTELLIGENTCIO
evolve towards more sustainable resource
management, particularly in terms of
improving energy efficiency and reducing
the overwhelming reliance on fossil fuels for
virtually all energy needs.
There was agreement that the energy
transition raised considerable challenges but
also opportunities.
Challenges related to infrastructure,
technology, finance and investment,
institutional barriers and political priorities
but there was a huge opportunity for Oman
with a projected US$200 billion spend on
renewables and the potential creation of
200,000 jobs in the GCC. Recommendations
for Oman included:
• Lifting the barriers to energy-efficiency
improvements and the introduction of
new technologies
• Conducting a new energy
management study, considering the
emerging technologies, cost reduction
possibilities and the outcomes of
Tanfeedh deliberations
• Deciding where Oman should focus its
efforts such as supply chain development,
research and development, services,
training or trading
• Establishing the correct governance
framework to drive renewables forward
• Developing the right skill set to maximise
the value of the renewable energy
projects and create jobs
PDO External Affairs and Value Creation
Director, Abdul-Amir Abdul-Hussein Al
Ajmi, said: “The PDO Majlis will provide
thought leadership on some of the major
issues facing the oil and gas industry as
well as the entire country. We believe it
will provide a platform for our key partners
and stakeholders to come together with us,
share our best practices and knowledge and
discuss challenges and opportunities.
“This open dialogue will hopefully result in
some game-changing solutions which will
help Oman address its priority areas and
continue its progress towards sustainable
development under the wise leadership of
His Majesty.” n
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