PDO launches CSR initiatives at Maqshan

Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has signed two Memorandums of Understanding to fund IT and English language training for at least 20 people and the construction of a camel race track in the Wilayat of Muqshin. The agreements were officially sealed between HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser al Hamar, Wali of Maqshan, and Suleiman al Mantheri, PDO’s external affairs and communications manager, in the Directorate General of State Affairs in Dhofar. Commending the company’s investment in the community, HE al Hamar said, “PDO’s support is hugely appreciated as both schemes will make a real difference to people’s lives in Muqshin. The training will equip locals with vital skills to enable them to find meaningful employment and earn a living and the camel track will become an invaluable leisure and social focal point. Commenting on PDO’s enhanced social contribution, Suleiman al Mantheri said, “We are dedicated to improving the lives of people in need in our concession area and have earmarked resources for community projects which have real social and employment benefits.

Nawras tests turbocharged network

Nawras has completed the first stage of extensive testing ahead of turbocharging its network in Al Amerat. Over 40,000 people living and working in the Wilayat will be the first in the country to enjoy the new, enhanced 3G+ technology in September this year. In preparation for turbocharging the network, Nawras has carefully surveyed and evaluated each individual site in Al Amerat to take into account the differing factors affecting the smooth operation of the base stations. All sites will shortly be offering the enhanced 3G+ service with much faster speeds and wider coverage giving a totally recharged broadband experience. The new technology will also lead to coverage reaching deeper into homes, offices and even large buildings. While customers will enjoy a significantly better 3G+ experience with the network recharge, prices for the service will not be increased. Network speed, capacity and reach will deliver higher quality levels while existing 3G+ tariffs will remain in place.

Oman Air qualifies for TRUEngine

Oman Air is the latest airline to become part of TRUEngine, qualifying all 33 CFM56-7B engines in its fleet for the programme. The TRUEngine designation serves as a method for identifying engines with CFM-approved content and facilitates product support of the engine system. Moreover, industry stakeholders can use the knowledge of engine content to evaluate engine value and re-marketability. Oman Air, which was formed in 1993 as the designated carrier of the Sultanate, became a CFM customer in 2001, when it became the first airline in the Gulf region to order CFM56-7B-powered Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. “Qualifying our CFM56 fleet in the TRUEngine programme is a natural extension of our maintenance philosophy,” said Wayne Pearce, CEO of Oman Air. “We understand and appreciate the benefits we gain from working with a world-class manufacturer like CFM. By confirming engine content, TRUEngine streamlines the support process and ensures the applicability of CFM’s extensive fleet knowledge.”

Microsoft launches office 365

Microsoft Corp. announced the commercial launch of Microsoft Office 365, the company’s next-generation cloud productivity service for businesses of all sizes, in the Middle East and Africa region. Previously available on a trial basis in markets across the Middle East and Africa, Office 365 is now commercially available in 16 countries across the region. The cloud solution will also be available with local pricing in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Leading regional service providers will bring the service to their customers. These leading providers will each integrate Office 365 with its other offerings and market the service to millions of small and midsize business customers worldwide. Office 365 brings together Microsoft Office, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Exchange Online and Microsoft Lync Online in an always-up-to-date service, at a predictable monthly cost. The service was introduced in limited beta last year with enthusiastic response, particularly among small and midsize businesses. Over a few months, more than 10,000 organisations, signed up and began testing Office 365..

Sitco receives ISO certification

Sitco has been accredited with ISO 9001:2008 certification recently. Established in 1983, Sitco has become a pioneer in office automation, large format printing and bureau services in Oman. As a distributor of world known brands, Sitco supports a number of ministries, corporate and crucial infrastructure and development projects in the country. “The idea behind acquiring the ISO certification is to provide better service to the customers in a more systematic way,” says V Jayaprakash, managing director, Sitco. “Our key focus is to make our customers happy with our exceptional service. And our long term commitment as an organisation will be to maintain this quality which has helped us grow during the last 30 years and to satisfy customers through service excellence.”

Severin, SARCO Join Hands

Germany’s Severin has set up shop in Oman under an exclusive partnership arrangement with SARCO. “Oman offers new growth opportunities in home appliance sector and we are very pleased to be working with SARCO as Severin’s exclusive importer-distributor,” said Eric Berchtold, Severin’s area director, Middle East and Africa. Speaking on the sidelines of a launch event held at Shangri-la Barr Al Jissah, Berchtold acknowledged Oman’s importance to Severin’s regional strategy and predicted that the product range will quickly carve a niche for itself. He noted that Oman’s consumer spending is showing a healthy growth on the back of recent pay rises across the public and private sectors. Ajay Ganti, CEO of SARCO, expressed his confidence in the new partnership. “Severin is a strong brand in the small domestic appliance sector. It comes with the German pedigree and an excellent product mix,” he said.

BankMuscat closes rights issue

The rights issue of BankMuscat which opened for subscription on July 9 to raise RO96.7mn aimed at enhancing Tier 1 capital was closed on July 22. The bank is offering 226.5 million shares at Bzs0.427 per share comprising a nominal value of Bzs100, premium of Bzs325 and issue expense of Bzs2 per share. With the record date being July 2, each existing shareholder is entitled to subscribe to one new share for every eight shares held by him/her. BankMuscat is the subscription bank and Gulf Baader Capital Markets is the issue manager of the rights issue. The proceeds of the issue will be utilised by the bank for financing growth resulting from the credit expansion following general economic growth in Oman; capitalising Islamic banking business and enhancing capital adequacy ratio to enable readiness for adoption of Basel III when introduced. Presently, the bank’s authorised share capital stands at RO250mn, consisting of 2,500,000,000 shares. Of this, 1,812,009,497 shares have been issued and fully paid-up. Following the rights issue, the issued and paid-up capital will be 2,038,510,684 shares with a nominal value of Bzs100 each.

OCTAL completes expansion of PET Complex

OCTAL has announced the successful completion of the phase two expansion plans of its state-of-the-art PET Complex in Salalah. Following the ramp-up period, full running is expected by August which fortifies the company’s ability to serve its local and international market commitments. Phase two capacity takes total system output to 920,000 tonnes per annum of PET bottle grade resin. The company’s annual exports reached RO215mn in 2012 and the completion of the second phase of expansion will put OCTAL well on the way to achieving RO511mn in annual sales by year ending March 31, 2013. This will be achieved by increasing capacity and converting new packaging applications to DPET™ sheet including the packaging of dates, yogurt, meat and cheese.

AHEC signs contract for major PAEW project

Al Hassan Engineering Company (AHEC) has recently signed a multi-million rial contract with the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) for the construction of Phase 1 of the Emergency Water Storage Reservoirs Project in the Muscat Governorate. PAEW is overseeing the development of a network of a number of emergency storage reservoirs located at strategic sites around the capital region. This backup network will be automatically deployed in the event of a supply crisis or a technical breakdown in the Muscat Water Supply Scheme, which currently serves the capital city. Plans for an emergency water reservoir network developed out of PAEW’s contingency planning for the Muscat governorate, following the adverse weather events of June 2007. Furthermore, the emergency storage network is also intended to keep the city well supplied in the event of any disruption in operations at the Ghubrah and Barka desalination plants, which meet much of Muscat’s potable water demand.

SWISS launches 24/7 online services

SWISS has enhanced the scope of the customer services it provides via the Facebook and Twitter social media platforms. Customers can now use these online channels to contact the airline’s service centre at any time of the day or night with any inquiry on flights, tickets, rebooking etc. SWISS has been utilising the Facebook and Twitter social media platforms for some time now to publish general information on the company, product news and competitions. The airline has now expanded its use of these online communication channels to ensure its round-the-clock reachability for its customers worldwide. SWISS is the first company in Switzerland to provide a specially-trained service centre team to deal with customers’ inquiries at any time of the day or night.

HSBC Bank Oman holds board meeting

HSBC Bank Oman held its first board of directors’ meeting under the chairmanship of Simon Cooper, CEO of HSBC Middle East. Board members discussed the latest developments in the integration process, along with other strategic developments to better meet the growing needs of retail, corporate and institutional customers. “The integration process remains firmly on track,” said Cooper. “Customers will soon begin to enjoy the full benefits of banking with a trusted partner that offers a diverse range of customised products and services which will help our customers achieve their financial goals in life.” The board meeting was followed by a private dinner at CEO Ewan Stirling’s residence, where members of the bank’s senior management team had an opportunity to meet with the board and exchange ideas and experiences in addition to forge new relationships.

Voltamp manufactures 125MVA power transformer

Voltamp Power, a fully owned subsidiary of Voltamp Energy, has successfully completed the testing of its first order of four 125 MVA 132/33 kV power transformers. Voltamp has delivered two of them to Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC) while the remaining two are awaiting despatch instructions. These power transformers have been manufactured at Voltamp’s world class power transformer factory located at the Sohar industrial area. “The despatch of the 125MVA power transformer, manufactured by Voltamp at Sohar for the first time in the GCC, is indeed a proud moment for Oman and all Omanis,” said HE Mohammed al Mahrouqi, chairman PAEW. “Now our power companies, utilities and contractors, do not have to look abroad for such transformers.”