Sultan Qaboos University and Salalah Methanol Company, a subsidiary of Oman Oil Company, signed a Letter of Intent to cooperate in different fields of research and scientific studies according to the needs, resources and laws related to each institution. The agreement was signed by Dr. Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrooqi, SQU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Research, and Awadh bin Hassan al Shanfari, Managing Director of Salalah Methanol Company.

This agreement represents the principle of effective partnership between the academia and the private sector and it is expected to offer broad prospects for fruitful cooperation; especially in the areas of common to both parties which are in line with the country’s strategic directions. This cooperation also comes as a recognition of the importance of research in meeting changing needs, and its ability to meet industry-related challenges by using scientific investigation and research methods, thereby resulting in credible solutions and findings.

It is worth mentioning that this cooperation is an extension of the pre-existing initiatives between the two sides. In March this year, Salalah Methanol Company delivered a presentation to SQU on the business facets and highlighted the challenges undergone. This was followed by a field visit by SQU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Research and a number of SQU research center directors to the company’s headquarters in August. Work is currently under progress on projects that have been identified as areas of cooperation, with these being in the sectors of oil and gas and sustainable energy.