The Ministry of Energy and Minerals signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with The Oman Environmental Services Holding Company S.A.O.C “be’ah” which aims to regulate the waste management sector, and promote the proper and safe disposal of waste. The MoU was signed by his Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Hamed Al-Rumhi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, and Eng. Tariq bin Ali Al-Amri, CEO of be’ah.
His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Hamed Al-Rumhi , Minister of Energy and Minerals, stated that the signing of the MoU between the two sides is a step within the framework of the continuous efforts by the Ministry to enable operators working in the Sultanate to follow the best practices in all areas related to the energy and minerals sectors, especially the areas concerning the preservation of the environment, His Excellency affirmed his great confidence that the implementation of this memorandum will contribute to the disposal of the waste in a safe and secure manner, in line with international standards. His Excellency also stressed the importance of this type of cooperation between various state institutions and join efforts in the interest of the nation.
Eng. Tariq Bin Ali Al-Amri, CEO of be’ah, said “We are pleased with this cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and Minerals to organize and sustain resources utilizing an environmentally conscious and sustainable approach. We will work with the Ministry to unify efforts and regulate the waste management sector to ensure that the companies operating in the oil sector are guided and approved by be’ah for the safe and secure disposal of hazardous waste such as lead acid batteries (LABs), electronic and electrical waste (WEEE), scrap metals and other types of recyclable waste.
Eng. Tariq added “We seek to apply the best internationally approved standards and practices for the collection, storage and treatment of these waste streams and the extraction of materials of economic value to be utilized locally in a way that supports the government’s approach to enhancing local added value.”
This initiative and the associated business with oil and gas companies is a tangible effort to achieve the objectives of the Oman 2040 Vision for building a sustainable environment and competitive economy by applying the principles of a circular economy. It is noteworthy that Oman Vision 2040 focuses on activating components of circular economy so that the Sultanate will shift from relying on the principles of linear economy (extraction, manufacturing, consumption and disposal) to preserve resources and create economic benefits and secondary industries that result in job opportunities.