In line with Sohar Aluminium’s (SA) efforts to promote safety and mitigate and eliminate any risks towards its personnel and the environment, the company recently hosted a high profile visit from the College of Engineering in Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). The visit was primarily to discuss ways of cooperation between the University and SA on the management of solid waste. The visiting team was led by Honorable Member of State Council and Head of Civil and Architectural Engineering Department Dr. Khalifa Al Jabri, accompanied by Dr. Issa Al-Harthy, Assistant Dean for Training and Community Service and Dr. Mahad Baawain, Director of Center for Environmental Studies and Research.

The visit was initiated by a meeting with Said Al Masoudi, CEO of Sohar Aluminium, followed by a meeting with SA Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) team where they discussed issues related to waste management, training and education for employees on health and safety issues. The visit was concluded by a tour to the various areas of the plant to meet with the employees and have a close overview of SA facilities.

Dr. Khalifa was very impressed by the high environmental standards adhered to by SA, and assured his keenness to collaborate with SA for waste management solutions and training opportunities for SQU students majoring in this field.

At Sohar Aluminium, EHS is embedded in the company’s business strategy and is central in the daily operations. The objective in EHS is “zero injuries and minimum environmental footprint”. In 2014, Sohar Aluminium aims to continue improving its environmental performance with projects that include a full environmental impact study on vegetation, targeting further reductions in air emissions, and increasing the number of sustainable solutions for waste management.

Sohar Aluminium was formed in September 2004 to undertake a landmark Greenfield aluminium smelter project in the Sultanate of Oman. Jointly owned by Oman Oil Company, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC - TAQA and Rio Tinto Alcan, Sohar Aluminium has won global acclaim for its superior, environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient technology.