Sohar, September 2015 - Under the patronage of H.E. Hamed bin Khamis Al Amri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Manpower, Sohar Aluminium (SA) proudly graduated two batches of Multi-Functional Technicians during a special ceremony held at Crowne Plaza Sohar. The 55 employees successfully completed a 2 year in-depth development programme at the SA Training Centre which allowed them to be promoted from Operators to Multi-Functional Technicians.
On the occasion, Eng. Said bin Mohammed Al Masoudi, CEO of SA, said, “Today marks a very important milestone for Sohar Aluminium as we witness 55 of our employees enhance their professional skills through hard work and dedication but above all, ambition to grow and progress in their careers. Congratulations to one and all.”
He added, “From the onset, Sohar Aluminium has been committed to recruit, train and develop Omanis in order to operate, maintain, supervise and manage our facilities to the highest calibre. This was the strategy that led to the development of a dedicated SA Training Centre on site that offers a wide range of courses for our employees starting from basic levels to postgraduate degrees. The Centre has been fundamental in our efforts to employ well-trained Omanis, enabling us to surpass a 70% Omanisation rate.”
Following the ceremony, visitors were invited to go on a tour to the Sohar Aluminium smelter where they were given an overview of the company’s various operational units. The tour was concluded at the Training Centre where they got to meet with the trainers and see the significant training capability that the centre can offer. The visitors were also taken to the Aluminium Craft Centre, the first Omani small enterprise (SME) to produce Aluminium handicrafts, initiated by Sohar Aluminium in cooperation with The Public Authority for Craft Industry (PACI), as part of the company’s CSR program.
Trainees for the Multi-Function Technicians Programme were selected on the basis of a series of Electrical, Mechanical, and English language assessments. The programme, which started in 2012, focuses on opening new horizons and preparing employees to fill higher positions to service the company and the Sultanate. Accredited by the Ministry of Manpower, the SA Training Centre also delivers a wide range of training programmes from welding and technical courses through to safety, management and leadership training. The Centre has moreover opened its doors to employees from other companies in and outside Oman.
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.