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During
2007, subsidiary companies MB Holding
continued to support social and sustainable
development projects in the areas of its
operations including the employment of
Omanis and nationals of the country in which
they operate. The group continued to work
closely within the oil and gas industry in
developing the local community of there they
operate. A substantial amount of expenditure
continues to be made by MB Petroleum
services and Petrogas in this area. The
National Mining Environment Protection and
Conservation Management initiated in the
design and construction of tailings and
water management was introduced in 2007. In
addition, a Community Management Plan was
also developed, which ensured that all
stakeholders and the community which may be
negatively affected by the impact of mining
activities were identified and mitigation
plans developed to address key issues. In
general, the amount of funds earmarked for
projects varied in each subsidiary company
of the group.
This
was divided in terms of specific planned
projects such as construction of a mosque
and facilities for inhabitants, a
“Majlis” and shops which when rented
support the running and maintenance costs of
such facilities to enable sustainability.
Some of the funds utilized included
contribution to specific local requests for
donation in terms of material or money or
work. These ranged from Zakat contribution
to help poor and needy people to offer
scholarships to students at Buraimi College.
Similarly, funds were embarked for training
ladies in computers, tailoring and
beautician as well as for purchasing lap
tops for excellent students, providing food
boxes during Ramadhan and in sponsorship of
seminars in the history of Shinas. An
exception in 2007 was the contribution to
Cyclone Guno cleanup exercise where
volunteer relief teams of staff from the
group’s subsidiary companies were formed
to manage the after effects of Cyclone Guno
in June 2007. Substantial contribution was
made in alleviating the damages caused by
that cyclone through provision of water to
the community, giving staff leave of absence
to assist their families affected, provision
of pump and tankers to remove stagnant water
and in a major exercise in cleaning up of
Azaiba beach jointly with the municipality.
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