MUSCAT : The meeting focused on reviewing strategies aimed at empowering national talent and increasing Omanisation across the energy and minerals sectors.

The session, chaired by Younis Ali Al Mandhari, Head of the Committee, included participation from several committee members and ministry officials. The discussions centred on the Ministry’s current initiatives to integrate Omani talent into vital sectors and develop effective employment policies aligned with Oman Vision 2040.

In his presentation, His Excellency Al Hadhrami emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to supporting Omanisation and improving coordination between the Ministry, employers, the labour market, and educational institutions. He outlined key challenges facing oil and gas companies and called for innovative solutions to boost employment opportunities for Omanis in these strategic sectors. He affirmed that the Ministry remains committed to empowering national talent and integrating them into organisations within the oil and energy sectors.

A Ministry expert then briefed the Committee on ongoing efforts to increase Omanisation rates in both operating companies within the oil and gas sector, as well as contracting and service companies. The presentation also featured an overview of the “Energy Sector Human Resources Forum,” which serves as an important platform for exchanging ideas and experiences on strengthening national competencies. Key themes of the forum and the number of participating companies were outlined.

Further insights were provided into the “PetroJobs” platform, a comprehensive database of sector-specific job opportunities, with recent statistics on job postings and user engagement shared. The “Tawteen” platform, a key initiative designed to enhance citizen employment, was also highlighted. Additionally, the roles of “Tactive Provac Oman” Institute and Oman Energy Institute in preparing Omani talent for the energy and minerals labour market were acknowledged.

The discussion also addressed the contributions of the Oman Society for Petroleum Services (OPAL) in supporting the Omanisation strategy. A specific focus was placed on the Omanisation strategy for the mining sector, which aims to increase Omani employment in mining projects, especially within concession areas, to ensure local communities benefit economically.

The session included extensive discussions between the Committee members and the Undersecretary on several core topics. These included the need to empower and qualify national talent for diverse technical and administrative roles and to significantly increase Omanisation rates. The importance of clear, actionable plans to expand employment opportunities in the oil and energy sectors was particularly stressed.

The Committee also called for enhanced coordination between the Ministry, higher education institutions, and specialized training institutes. The goal is to ensure academic outputs directly align with the specific needs of the energy and minerals job market, particularly through training university students via institutes affiliated with these industries.

Regarding the mining sector, the Committee underscored the necessity for companies to be obligated to employ and train national talent, especially in concession areas, as part of their social responsibility towards local communities. It also called for an assessment of the quality and effectiveness of specialized training institutes in preparing personnel for this sector.

In conclusion, the Committee Chair commended the Ministry of Energy and Minerals for its dedicated efforts in supporting Omanisation policies and improving the working environment across both sectors. He stressed the importance of sustained cooperation and coordination between the Ministry and relevant stakeholders to achieve national goals related to employment and the development of Omani human resources.

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