MUSCAT : With the aim of enhancing In-Country Value (ICV) and supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through various initiatives, activities, and projects, Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC), in collaboration with the SME Development Authority, organized an introductory session for holders of the Riyada Card on Monday, October 21, 2024. More than 50 Omani SMEs participated in the session, which provided a platform for business owners to interact with officials and specialists from the company and the authority. The session also introduced the benefits of the Riyada Card and the developmental opportunities available for its holders, in addition to showcasing the business opportunities and contracts available in the company’s various projects across Oman.

This initiative comes as part of OETC’s commitment to supporting SMEs and enhancing ICV, while adhering to the regulations and procedures set by the relevant authorities. The company ensures the integration of these enterprises into its projects by allocating no less than 10% of the total Engineering, Procurement and Construction projects cost to SMEs. In addition, all tenders issued by OETC with a value of OMR 10,000 or less are exclusively awarded to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Furthermore, the company conducts other initiatives like supporting local products, engaging with Omani companies, and employing job seekers according to the project’s nature, requirements, and location.

Eng. Talal Al-Azri, Tenders, Procurements and Contracts Manager at Oman Electricity Transmission Company, emphasized the importance the company places on supporting Omani entrepreneurs, youth, and SMEs, highlighting the company’s adoption of policies and procedures that ensure the achievement of the intended goals. He also pointed out the company’s commitment to implementing plans that positively impact these enterprises and strengthen local communities.

Al-Azri added: “As a leading company in the Sultanate of Oman, we bear a great responsibility to support the youth and entrepreneurs, and we collaborate with relevant entities to ensure a certain percentage of our contracts is allocated to Omani companies. We also strive to transfer knowledge and expertise to ensure the growth and development we aim to see in our SMEs.”

It is worth mentioning that OETC, a member of Nama Group, is the only company responsible for the transmission and control of electricity across the Sultanate’s network. The electricity is transmitted from production stations to distributed load centers in the governorates. The transmission network operates at a voltage of 132kV and above to cover most of the governorates in the Sultanate, whether in the north or the south. Furthermore, OETC manages the interconnection lines between Oman and the GCC interconnection network, which operates at a voltage of 220kV.