its strategic focus on maximising operating efficiencies, continuous improvement and the dedication of its employees. Sohar Aluminium has had a positive impact on economic diversification and job creation after only a few years of operation. It makes a significant contribution to Oman’s overall GDP of 0.7 per cent. The company also employs over 1,000 people and is credited with creating an additional 3,500 indirect jobs here in the Sultanate. Omanisation, which currently stands at 70 per cent of its workforce, is a driving factor within the organisation. The company’s target for the near future is to be 85 per cent Omanised. The development of its young employees is paramount and with that in mind, Sohar Aluminium has launched a training academy which will give each and every employee the opportunity for further learning. At the heart of Sohar Aluminium’s training and development strategy is a desire to ensure that its staff have the correct skills, knowledge, motivation and alignment to perform optimally in support of the company’s vision and objectives. A clearly defined career path for each position guides the training and development plans for all employees. Career development strategies are aimed at Performance Management, Supervisory and Leadership Development, Individual Development Plans, operator training, and the technical and general skills development of shop floor employees. Coaching and mentoring are on-going objectives. A series of initiatives have been underway to help enhance competence and performance levels within the workforce. Notable is the multi-functional technical development programme aimed at optimizing competence levels by developing a technical Omani workforce that will eventually replace expatriates. The range of training initiatives targeted at young Omanis includes the Multi-functional Technical Development Programme, Supervisory Development Programme, Najaah Programme, Industrial Excellence Training, and Accredited Apprenticeship Programme. Furthermore, Sohar Aluminium has forged a partnership with Sohar University to assist with the sourcing and development of bright young talent in anticipation of meeting the company’s future skills requirements. In addition, the company is working with Sultan Qaboos University to support research-based initiatives.
Downstream opportunities Part of Sohar Aluminium’s overall strategy is to promote and
support the establishment of a robust downstream aluminium industry in Oman to increase the value of producing aluminium to Oman’s economy as well as to create further employment and business opportunities. Two hundred hectares of land adjacent to the smelter site at the Sohar Industrial Estate are set aside for downstream industry development and up to 60 per cent of the annual production capacity will be sold on to the local downstream industry. Local companies can take advantage of liquid metal sales to manufacture all manner of aluminium products. The most recent of these downstream ventures, Oman Aluminium Processing Industries (OAPIL), commenced operations in 2010 and produces cables and wires. Construction is also underway on a giant aluminium rolling mill of a capacity of 160,000 tonnes per annum. Oman Aluminium Rolling Company (OARC), a 100 per cent subsidiary of majority government-owned Takamul Investment Company, is building the plant with an investment of around $380 million. Its location adjacent to Sohar Aluminium’s smelter will allow for molten metal to be cast into aluminium foil for the packaging and food preservation foil markets, while finstock will be produced for the automotive heat exchanger and air conditioning sectors. OARC’s products are primarily destined for the Middle East and European markets. Sohar Aluminium’s commitment to supplying 60 per cent of its hot metal output to downstream units will be achieved when OARC comes on stream in the third quarter of 2013. The remainder 40 per cent of the output is cast into ingots and sows and sold on the international market.
57 Port of Sohar 2013