SNC-Lavalin, a leading project management company, has joined hands with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) to launch its new training centre in Muscat, thus bringing its global project commissioning and completions experience to the benefit of both Omani trainees, and projects within the sultanate.

The launch was combined with the formal opening of the new office in Muscat, where its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kentz Overseas Company, will execute commissioning work for PDO under a five-year framework agreement signed in 2017.

SNC-Lavalin’s training academy in Muscat gives access to its international experience to Oman and to Omanis, particularly in the highly skilled area of project commissioning, said a statement from the Canadian construction giant.

The commissioning and completions stages of large projects are crucial to their success and long-term ability to serve the people of Oman.

By bringing these skills into the country, it provides not only highly skilled jobs locally, but ensures that Oman retains the ability to undertake these key processes with well-trained Omanis in the future, it stated.

SNC-Lavalin said it has an active presence in Oman and is committed to the country.

"The creation of skilled jobs for Omani jobseekers is a key aim for PDO and a national priority for the sultanate," remarked Raoul Restucci, the managing director at PDO, who presided over the launch.

It showcased the custom-designed commissioning training scheme that already has over 40 Omani students enrolled, with plans to increase to 250 over the course of the programme.

“As with many thousands of others who have been enrolled on our National Objectives programme, this latest batch of trainees will receive a comprehensive theoretical and practical grounding and be certified to international standards so that they can compete with the best in the world,” noted Restucci.

Donal Dempsey, the country manager for oil and gas at SNC-Lavalin, said: "We are proud to be providing not just commissioning support services to PDO, but more importantly to be involved in training local Omanis to become highly skilled experts that can take their knowledge onto future projects."

"It is a very exciting time for Oman, and we are extremely pleased and supportive to be involved in building local capacity and capability," he added.-TradeArabia News Service