Strategic Alliance Partnership with industries in the Sultanate of Oman

Majis Industrial Services is the leader of industrial water services in the Sultanate of Oman. Together with Veolia, it runs and maintains water extraction, treatment and distribution facilities that provide water and wastewater services to the industrial users of the port of Sohar. This area is located 250km north of Muscat and houses four clusters: logistics, petrochemicals, power and heavy metals.

It goes without saying that a port holds a “strategic” position. Yet, when it comes to Sohar, this observation is more than apt, as the location and role of the port area are so closely linked to the country’s future. Keen to reduce its reliance on oil, the Sultanate of Oman has actually been focusing on diversifying its economy for almost twenty years. An ambition in which the port of Sohar is playing an active role: today, this hub of shipping trade in the Middle East, the sultanate’s largest industrial area, plays home to the petrochemical industry, along with metallurgy, electricity production and logistics industry. In order to meet these industries’ major water needs, a state-owned corporation was founded in 2006: Majis Industrial Services Company (MISC).

So as to meet the demands of this rapidly developing port area and increase the quality of its services, the Omani company decided to rely on external expertise. Majis takes advantage of Veolia international resources and expertise to provide tailor-made solutions using a wide variety of the latest technologies.

Veolia is operating and maintaining the following existing and future water facilities owned by Majis:

• seawater intake facility, with pumping and electro-chlorination system (8 Mm³/d + seawater return canal);
• common cooling seawater system (60,000 m³/h - 15km of network)
• process water distribution system (32,000 m³/d, 5 booster pumps, 10km network, 4,000 m³ storage tank);
• potable water network: from the IWPP on the Port of Sohar (8,000 m³/d);
• domestic wastewater collection system with 19 pumping stations and a network;
• domestic wastewater treatment plant of 3,000 m³/d;
• treated industrial effluents network

 
Veolia also assists Majis Industrial Services with strategic management support, providing continuous expertise on various water utilities aspects. Thus, Veolia, through its consultancy subsidiary Seureca, has provided MISC with strategic decision tools such as a comprehensive Master Plan and Business Plan, feasibility studies to define MISC’s opportunities to expand their services into other areas of Oman, targeted communication support, etc. These also include real hands on operational consultancy services for diagnosis of utilities, troubleshooting, etc.

Veolia does not merely offer the implementation of best practices; it is also committed to supporting the local teams through training (87 hours per employee in 2013) and a growing involvement in the operational and managerial activities. This is also a way of better meeting the targets set by the “Omanization” policy. As a guide: by 2020, the deadline set by the “Vision for Oman’s economy” program launched in 1995, the rate of Omanis employed in the public sector must reach 95%, while the goal for the private sector is 75% (compared to 52% for Veolia in 2013).

In December 2013 Veolia has completed the final audit to obtain the triple QHSE certification (ISO 9,001, ISO 14,001, OHSAS 18,001, demonstrating the involvement of all the staff in implementing the best possible practices.

Finally, Corporate Social Responsibility is at the heart of the partnership between Majis and Veolia. A major program has been formalized for the years to come. Structured around three objectives, it firstly aims to strengthen ties with the local communities through university partnerships and educational programs, accompanied by awareness-raising actions. This was demonstrated by Majis’ participation in “Omani Women’s Day”, which offered an opportunity to inform the port’s employees about breast cancer screening and treatment. The program also encourages skills development. Veolia welcomed young engineers from Omani universities to train them in water engineering best practices. Finally, part of this program is devoted to sharing sustainable development knowledge (the environment and biodiversity) with Majis’ subcontractors, suppliers and partners.