Microsoft signs USD $17 million agreement with Information Technology Authority (ITA) for Desktop Product Licenses.
In it’s efforts to implement various Digital Oman initiatives, the Information Technology Authority (ITA) has signed a three-year $17 million agreement on July 2, 2006 with Microsoft for the use of the company’s desktop products. The agreement will cover the usage of the licensed Microsoft desktop product on 22,500 desktops throughout various Omani government organizations.
Occidental wins Oman’s Mukhaizna oil field.
A Royal Decree has been issued in Oman approving Occidental for development of the Mukhaizna oil field, one of the largest in the sultanate. Oman Oil will hold 20%, Shell Oman 15%, Liwa Energy 15%, Total 2% and Partex 1%. Occidental and partners will invest $2billion to raise output to 150,000 barrels per day over five years.
Turner Construction’s Projects in Oman.
U.S.-based Turner Construction is currently working on three important development projects in Oman. Most recently, Turner served the project manager for the recently completed Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort in Muscat, a project with a construction value of US $145 million. The resort includes a total of 680 rooms and suites in three separate hotels. As an extension to the work just completed at the Barr Al Jissah, Turner has been assigned to work on a new program for the construction of 125 residential units on the grounds. The residential complex will consist of 75 apartments, 30 townhouses and 20 villas.
In both of these efforts, Turner led a global team of engineers, contractors, and consultants including the U.S.-based design firm, Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo, and managed the inclusion of many suppliers from the U.S. who exported their goods to the project such as Superior Boiler Works and Baltimore Aircoil – two leading manufacturers of mechanical equipment.
Turner is also working as project and construction manager for Oman’s tourism and beach front residential project, The Wave, also in Muscat, an $800 million construction project which will include a Greg Norman signature golf course, a 300-berth marina, villas, apartments and several themed hotels. Both the architect for the project, OBM, and golf course designer, Greg Norman Golf Design, are based in Florida.
Finally, at the Thumrait Air Base for the Sultanate, Turner is managing construction of facilities for twelve U.S. manufactured F-16 fighter jets. This exhibits not only Turner’s commitment to the nation, but also the U.S. aircraft manufacturing community.
In addition to these projects, Turner is also involved in the local community. For the Wave project, Turner plans to have a mentoring program for local students who are pursuing engineering degrees. This is similar to programs that Turner runs in the U.S. and will give Omani students an opportunity to work for an American company and gain firsthand job experience. Turner was also a corporate sponsor for “A Celebration of Omani Culture” at the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C. in June, 2005.
Dow Invests in Oman Petrochemical Industries Company LLC
On November 30, 2004, the Dow Chemical Company entered into a joint venture with the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and Oman Oil Company, S.A.O.G to form Oman Petrochemicals Industries Company LLC (OPIC), which will build and operate a petrochemical complex in Oman.
Located in the Sohar Industrial Port Area, the petrochemical complex will comprise of feedstock production facilities in Fahud, a gas cracker and a three world-scale polyethylene production units, which will be based on state-of-the-art catalyst and process technology.
The joint venture will facilitate the development of downstream industries in Oman that will convert polyethylene to end-products in Oman, thus enhancing the level of job creation that will result from the complex.
The Dow Chemical Company (Dow):
The Dow Chemical Company specializes in science and technology, providing innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $33 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 180 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others.
Bechtel to Build Aluminum Smelter in Oman
Bechtel has signed an agreement with Sohar Aluminum to build an aluminum smelter in northern Oman. The smelter is a part of an overall $2.2 billion project that will also include a power station and desalination plant, as well as a port facility. Bechtel will provide engineering, procurement, construction, and project management for the smelter, which will have a capacity of 325,000 tones of aluminum per year. Sohar Aluminium is a joint venture of Oman Oil Company and Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, each of which owns 40 percent, and Canada's Alcan Inc., which owns the remaining 20 percent.
Bechtel Corporation:
Bechtel provides premier technical, management, and directly related services to develop, manage, engineer, build, and operate installations for our customers worldwide. Founded in 1898, Bechtel is privately held and has been under the leadership of its founding family for four generations.
AES Creates Barka Subsidiary to Produce Power and Water
The AES Corporation has teamed up with a local partner to develop an approximately $415 million independent water and power project in Barka, considered to be the biggest greenfield power project in Oman. The Barka project, which comprises of a 427 mega-watt (MW) power production unit and a 20 million imperial gallon per day water desalination plant, is the first project to be established by AES in the region. AES operates Barka under a build, own, and operate (BOO) basis under a 15 year concession granted by the government.
AES Corporation:
The AES Corporation was formed in 1981 and is based in Arlington, Virginia. through its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership and operation of electric power generation and distribution businesses worldwide. It operates in four segments: Contract Generation, Competitive Supply, Large Utilities, and Growth Distribution. The Contract Generation segment supplies wholesale electricity under long-term contracts. The Competitive Supply segment supplies wholesale electricity pursuant to short-term contracts or to spot electricity markets. Competitive Supply segment owns power plants, which sell electricity to wholesale customers. The Large Utility segment owns utilities that maintain a franchise within a defined service area. Growth Distribution segment operates electricity distribution facilities, which offers generation, transmission, distribution, and related services.