Muscat: As part of its efforts and commitment to keep pace with all updates and relevant developments in the sector, and to enhance communication and exchange of experiences and knowledge, alongside the development of various fields by collaborating with experts and specialists in the electricity sector; the Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC) recently in collaboration with the GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) hosted the Cybersecurity Workshop 2024, which lasted for two days. The workshop aimed to exchange expertise and discuss developments in cybersecurity incidents and digital forensics in the operational technology environment, as well as to discuss advanced technologies to improve the substations’ security. 

This workshop comes as part of OETC’s endeavors to enhance the field of cybersecurity, in addition to its commitment to ensure the security of the company’s assets, data, and employees, sharing expertise and knowledge, and developing skills and capabilities in this area among various institutions within the sector at the national, regional, and international levels. The workshop included several topics presented by experts and specialists in the field from OETC, GCCIA, and the Oman National Computer Emergency Readiness Team. Discussions focused on the OETC’s approach to improving security measures for SCADA and control systems, cybersecurity developments targeting the infrastructure of power stations, incident response and recovery at power stations, the importance of security drills, and more.

Regarding cooperation with various related entities, Eng. Sultan Al-Rawahi, General Manager of Load Dispatch Center and Oman’s representative in the Operational Committee in GCCIA, pointed at OETC’s ongoing and existing efforts and its commitment to continuous engagement with various institutions and sectors to enhance the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of the company’s employees in various fields.

Al-Rawahi added: “We prioritize the development of employees, improving their capabilities, and supporting them through various initiatives, activities, and projects. In this context, we enhance our communication with experts and host specialists from various fields and sectors at both local and international levels to provide a suitable platform for exchanging experiences and developing capabilities. Additionally, we aim to improve the level of performance, quality of work, and the operational technology environment in OETC specifically and in the sector generally, to meet higher levels of aspirations and targets”.

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.