Muscat: The first edition of the HR Energy Chapter Symposium, titled ‘Strategic Human Resources in the Energy Sector,’ commenced today at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center. Organized by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, this two-day forum was inaugurated by Eng. Salim Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals.
According to Oman News Agency, in his opening remarks, Al Aufi highlighted the forum’s critical role in fostering collaboration and promoting collective thinking to tackle emerging challenges posed by professional and technological advancements in the energy industry. He encouraged participants to use the platform to rethink traditional policies, explore new public-private cooperation avenues, and strengthen connections with academic institutions.
The symposium gathers executives, professionals, academics, decision-makers, and HR managers from a wide range of entities operating within the energy sector. The event features numerous workshops focused on building leadership resilience amid economic and technological shifts, expanding employment opportunities for Omanis through innovative localization programs, aligning education with labor market needs, and upskilling professionals to meet future digital demands.
Discussions will also center on enhancing mental health and workplace safety to ensure workforce productivity and stability. The forum is set to witness the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between government and private institutions. Among these are an MoU for the Ishraq program between Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED) to build SME capacities in solar energy, and an MoU for talent exchange between PDO, Oman LNG, and Sohar LNG.
Other significant agreements include a strategic cooperation agreement between PDO and Takatuf for human capital services, a training program MoU for technical operators between Shell and Takatuf Petrofac Oman, a clean energy development MoU between Oman Society for Petroleum Services (OPAL) and the Oman Energy Institute, a vocational training MoU between OPAL and Takatuf Petrofac Oman’s training center, and a digital dashboard MoU between the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and Rihal Company to monitor drilling and crane contracts in the oil and gas sector.