Al Batinah International School opens

The Sohar Aluminium-sponsored Al Batinah International School (ABIS) in Sohar was officially opened at a small but significant ceremony on Wednesday 14 November at the school’s temporary premises.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Oman Ministry of Education, Sohar
Aluminium management, The Sohar Port Authority and related companies, as well as pupils, teachers and parents.

“This is a very special moment in the life of the ABIS,” said School Director, Ms Marlene Sewell. “From our small beginnings we have the opportunity to learn and grow together. We don’t all come from the same place and don’t all look alike or think alike, but together we have the ability to learn from one another and respect our differences.”

Ms Sewell went on to thank the school Management Committee from Sohar Aluminium and the Omani Ministry of Education for their ongoing support. She also thanked the teaching staff, students and parents for giving the school such a positive start.

Sohar Aluminium CEO Tony Kinsman recognized the enormous effort made by the ABIS staff in establishing the school in time for the new school year.

“It is never easy starting a project from scratch, as we at Sohar Aluminium know from building a 350,000 ton capacity greenfield aluminium smelter, but Ms Sewell and her staff has done an admirable job in getting the ABIS up and running in a very short space of time,” Mr Kinsman said.

The ABIS was established in September 2007 to provide world-class international education for the children of expatriate workers in the Sohar region.

“The curriculum will be unique to this school and will use the resources of one of the oldest
civilizations in the world,” Ms Sewell said. “This day is more than the opening of a new school. It is about the education of each and every student. That is what our work has always been about. That is what it will always be about. In our students, we hold our future in our hands.”

The ABIS is temporarily housed in a villa in the Al Owhy district of Sohar. The school will move to a new purpose-built facility for the new academic year.

Sohar Aluminium’s shareholders are Oman Oil Company, Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority, and Alcan. The company was established in September 2004 to construct and operate a single AP35 potline aluminium smelter with an associated power plant. The smelter is targeted to start its first production of hot metal in 2008.