Sustainable Development

What is Sustainable Development?

Human Resources Developement

Health, Safety, Security and Environment

Tourism

Community

Stakeholders

Development which meets the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Why do we want it?

Sustainable Development is the best way forward for SOM because:

• we welcome the opportunity to contribute to society;

• it corresponds with our values and core purpose;

• it will help us evolve our business portfolio on line with society’s expectations;

• it provides us with the best opportunity for sustained success.

How do we do it?

We apply the sustainable development management framework to all operations.

We employ the seven principles of sustainable development to all decision-making processes.

We set targets for improvement, and measure and report performance.

We encourage contractors to manage their business in line with this policy.

We include sustainable development performance in staff appraisals and recognize its achievement.

Our Objectives

• To promote sustainable development in SOM.

• To consider sustainable development in all business decisions.

• To promote sustainable development among our stakeholders.

• To engage stakeholders for their input in our long-term plans.

The Seven Principles of Sustainable

Development at SOM

The seven sustainable development principles relate to areas where we need to plan and measure continuous improvement in order to achieve business success and meet our stakeholders’ expectations. None are new to the way we work, but taken together they help us integrate economic, social and environmental aspects of our business and find a balance between our long and short term goals.

1 To generate robust profitability

2 To deliver value to customers

3 To protect the environment

4 To manage resources

5 To respect people

6 To work with stakeholders

7 To benefit communities

Our commitment to Sustainable

Development

• To encourage local employment and to develop the skills of local people – including higher technical and management skills – where possible, without compromising operating standards.

• To continue to improve HSSE standards for all our operations, focusing particularly on road safety.

• To support the government in its aim to diversify the economy through the development of tourism.

Omanisation

SOM offers its services in all sectors of petroleum products consumption, through its wide network of service stations, all of which are Omani-owned and operated.

More than 85% of the workforce is Omani, including senior management, rendering the organisation one of the most Omanised private companies in the country.

Omanisation is the most effective tool for generating sustainable development and the most demonstrable marker of its success. SOM is responding to the needs and challenges of the country in embracing the national goals of Omanisation and sustainable development. The government aim is to have Omanis at the highest level and SOM is unusual among Omani companies in its achievement of this aim.

People

SOM sets out to be the employer of first choice; to attract high calibre employees through attractive pay and conditions, and seek to retain them through stimulating and developing their performance, potential and levels of professionalism. Our employees benefit from:

• A challenging work environment

• Staff training programmes

• Medical facilities and a biennial medical check

• Sponsorship for higher education

• Performance management system

• Biennial salary survey

• Biennial staff feedback survey.

Internship Programme

Each year, SOM offers internships to selected students from Sultan Qaboos University and local colleges, providing opportunities for hands-on training and the development of professional competencies through real projects.

SQU Careers Fair

SOM participates in the annual SQU Careers Fair, which aims to provide careers guidance and business advice to Omani graduates.

Select Franchisee Programme

The Select Franchisee Programme is intended to give young Omani entrepreneurs the opportunity to be self-employed within an established and successful business. After completing a training programme in store management, selected candidates enter into a franchise agreement with SOM.

SOM has a sound and actively-managed HSSE policy, and strives to maintain leadership status in HSSE implementation within its sector in Oman. In addition, SOM collaborates with the government to support health, safety and environmental initiatives through sponsorship.

Health

In partnership with the Ministry of Health SOM has organised and sponsored a variety of programmes aimed at increasing general health awareness among staff. In particular. Staff participate in the annual blood donation exercises in the company premises. And the company conducted several HSSE days in which specific health matters were addressed.

Safety

SOM actively co-operates with the Department of Civil Defence and the Traffic Department of Royal Oman Police in road safety initiatives. For the past years, SOM has worked closely with the ROP during GCC Traffic Week to educate motorists in the importance of road safety. The road safety campaigns include:

• Promotional and educational material on display at service stations

• Wide distribution of safety tip leaflets

• Children’s painting competition and exhibition on road safety

• Promotion of the campaign in the press

Environment

Protection of the environment is one of the company’s top priorities. SOM adheres to strict international standards and ensures that its operations are conducted accordingly.

SOM works with the Ministry of Environment & Climate Affairs to raise public awareness of environmental issues through events such as Oman Environment Day, and projects such as reef cleaning in the Daymanyat Islands and beach cleaning in Muscat.

SOM supported the study of over 20 whale species by the Oman Whale and Dolphin Research Group, whose surveys obtain baseline data on these mammals and their habits. Data and materials collected are passed to SQU to benefit student research and study.

The government called on the private sector to help promote tourism, key to its aims to diversify the economy and create jobs. In partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and major business establishments, SOM responded with a campaign to encourage local and regional tourists to discover Oman, a significant element of which was a tourist guide entitled ‘My Beautiful Oman’. The guide, a comprehensive listing of hotels, restaurants and attractions, was available free from Shell Select stations, and the campaign was advertised in the press and the national radio.

Each month, exclusive special offers were available to tourists at selected hotels. A competition was run encouraging members of the public to contribute ideas for promoting tourism or to describe holiday experiences through words and photographs. Winning stories were broadcast on Oman FM. Promotional tourist maps of the Salalah area, featuring a competition based on the ‘My Beautiful Oman’ holiday guide, were distributed at service stations. Cars were offered as prizes to two raffle draw winners.

The campaign was extremely successful and culminated in the award, to 20 lucky couples, of the unique opportunity to view Oman’s dramatic landscape from an Oman Air flight.

Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Muscat Municipality, SOM sponsors Muscat Festival to help promote Muscat as a tourist destination. The Festival has generated increased awareness and interest among local and regional tourists and has become a popular annual event in Oman’s holiday calendar.

In association with Dhofar Municipality, SOM supports the Khareef Festival, with an extensive programme of attractive events such as a raffle drawa for a ‘Fuel for Life’ card. To reinforce the safety message among tourists, SOM also organizes the following initiatives:

• Talks on safe driving in khareef weather conditions were broadcast on Oman FM.

• Members of the SOM management team worked on service station forecourts in Salalah, engaging with the public and offering advice.

• Members of the ROP were stationed on forecourts to give safety advice.

• Free safety checks and tourist maps were available at service stations.

SOM actively sponsors a wide variety of charities, giving money and supports to many of the organisations which assist the disadvantaged in health and education. SOM held its first Charity Fair in 2004, at Qurm Natural Park. Over 50 disabled children were invited to enjoy the event, from which proceeds were distributed among a range of charities.

A number of families are selected on annual basis to receive Ramadhan Rations.

SOM employees voluntarily contribute time and funds, and implement programmes designed to help those in need within the community.

We believe that one of the most significant areas in sustainable development is the incorporation of stakeholders’ expectations in our decision-making. We seek feedback through engagement activities and strive to enhance our operations accordingly to meet stakeholders’ needs.