PDO has, for many years, actively supported the education of Omanis, investing large sums of money and expertise in developing nationals.

Such a policy goes hand-in-hand with the company's aim to achieve full Omanisation by 2007. By the end of last year, 84 per cent of the company's establishment positions were filled with Omanis.

Developing Omanis ensures both a successful future for PDO and helps in the sustainable development of Oman as a whole, according to managing director Steve Ollerearnshaw.

But now PDO is taking steps to boost Omanisation levels at its contracting firms, in association with the Oman Petroleum Alliance (Opal).

PDO has already set an Omanisation target of 60 per cent for contracting firms, which will be increased in a phased manner year after year, said Ollerearnshaw.

Contracting companies will be penalised if they do not meet the target, according to PDO.

PDO and Opal have set a target of 1,000 jobs for locals every year by replacing expatriate workers. Contractors and subcontractors employ 17,000 to 18,000 workers at various PDO facilities.

PDO spends more than $30 million a year on training, and has introduced many schemes to improve the skills of its workers.

While the normal training is mostly done in its training centres at Muscat and Fahud, some are sent abroad for post-graduation programmes.