What have been some major highlights for Marafiq over the past year?

Over the past year, Marafiq has made significant strides towards becoming Oman’s leading utility company. We recognized the international trend of centralized utility companies and realized the benefits of economies of scale, synergies, and cost optimization. Our core activities focus on providing utilities and centralizing capital investments from other industries. One of our major milestones was the construction and commissioning of the Duqm Integrated Power and Water Plant (DIPWP), a 326-MW facility that provides power and water to our major customer, OQ8 (Duqm Refinery). Additionally, we successfully commissioned a mobile gas turbine power plant, solidifying our position as the main water producer and power generator in Duqm. This period of growth and development has transformed Marafiq from a project-focused company to a business-focused operating company, aligning with our goal of becoming the leading integrated utility developer in Oman.

What makes Marafiq a unique player in the market?

Marafiq’s uniqueness stems from our strategic investments in major infrastructure development, which have positioned us advantageously in the market. We see attractive reinvestment opportunities, particularly in potable water generation infrastructure, which will enable us to become the top provider in Duqm. Additionally, Marafiq is a joint venture company with two reputable and large shareholders, OQ and Gulf Energy Development. This partnership ensures accountability, operational capability, and a strong reputation. We are actively exploring ways to reduce our reliance on natural gas by incorporating renewable resources and implementing the best waste management technologies. Our ultimate goal is to achieve zero CO2 discharge, showcasing our commitment to environmental sustainability.

How big is your agenda to become more environmentally friendly?

Our agenda to become more environmentally friendly is not just a choice, but a commitment we are fully dedicated to. With OQ8 (Duqm Refinery) as our main customer, we strive to strike a balance between renewable and conventional power generation to ensure the most sustainable, available, and secure source of utilities. Through our power purchase agreement with Tanweer, we transitioned from running a diesel power plant to utilizing gas turbines, resulting in a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, we have reduced our CO2 emissions by up to 90,000 tons per year, which is equivalent to removing 20,000 cars from the roads. We are also actively collaborating with developers of green ammonia hydrogen projects to explore sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.

How important is it for Marafiq to promote human capital and local talent?

Promoting human capital and nurturing local talent is of utmost importance to Marafiq. We have established a comprehensive talent management framework that addresses all competency requirements for various positions within the company. Our focus is on developing the skills of national employees, ensuring they are well-equipped for their roles through clear skills development plans. We have also launched 25 HR initiatives to enhance the working environment and plan to conduct a staff satisfaction survey. We believe in empowering our employees to have a voice and provide feedback on our operations. Additionally, we have developed a corporate communication plan to engage with external stakeholders and improve internal communication among our staff. Our goal is to ensure that our employees are aware of all the strategies and initiatives taking place within Marafiq and become ambassadors for the company’s future success.