Muscat, EJAAD Platform signed today the first
four research agreements for the first four industrial projects awarded
through the platform. The three-year long agreements worth of RO
300,000 mark the first cooperation between the partners at EJAAD
Platform.
The signing ceremony was held under the patronage of Eng.
Salim bin Nasser al-Oufi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil and Gas
who pointed out that the agreements were signed between Petroleum
Development Oman (PDO) and Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) to
carry out four different researches to find solutions to the challenges
facing the company in polymer, electricity and associated water fields.
He pointed out that the program, which started at the end of
2017 and the beginning of 2018 aims at creating a platform for
understanding between oil and gas companies and the research
centers to activate and maximize the role of the research centers in the
Sultanate especially researches were usually outsourced outside the
Sultanate. He noted that researches are now carried out inside the
Sultanate to enhance the quality of equipment, human resources and
academic research.
On her part, Dr. Rahma al-Mahrouqiyah, SQU Deputy Vice
Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research said that
the relationship between SQU and PDO is historic. She noted that
there is a joint committee through which consensus is reached on the
researches that provide solutions for oil and gas challenges.
Raoul Restucci, PDO Managing Director said that signing these
agreements cast light on the growing consistency between industry
and academia. This will bring great and sustainable benefits to the
Sultanate.
Dr. Sulaiman al-Toobi, Director of EJAAD Platform said that the
first project is related to developing bio fuels and its uses as a clean
and sustainable source of energy. The second one is a study for
specifying the suitable distance between the high tension lines and oil
pipelines. The third project is related to the development of highly cost
effective polymer for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) use. The fourth
project is related to diagnosing the mechanical and chemical reasons
for the fracturing of some oilfield head structures.
“There are 14 research proposals at EJAAD Platform now. They focus
on oil and gas, energy efficiency and renewable energy. The
challenges are classified into short term research advice and one to
three-year long research projects,” Dr. al-Toobi added.
The signing of these agreements between EJAAD Platform,
SQU and PDO is one of the outcomes of the scientific research and
innovation protocol in energy field between the Research Council, PDO
and the Ministry of Oil and Gas in June 2017. Thirty-seven industrial,
academic and government institutions signed the protocol.
The signing of the agreement comes on the sidelines of the
meeting of the Platform members to update the CEOs, researchers
and members of the Platform of the latest developments of the
Platform and the challenges it faces. The meeting also aims at inviting
companies to interact and cooperate with the Platform to achieve its
pre-set aims.
EJAAD Platform enhances research and innovation in the field
of energy and facilitate cooperation between the three sectors with
regard to activating the scientific research activities in energy field
through organising seminars and capacity building training courses in
energy. The Platform aims at urging the industrial organisations to
utilise in-country value (ICV) in supporting research and innovation in
energy field.
Source: Oman News Agency