What have been some of STS Group’s major highlights in the past year?

In the past year, STS Group has achieved significant milestones as a leading multidisciplinary contracting group in the construction, fabrication, maintenance, and manufacturing services sector. With a history dating back to 1980, STS Oman has grown its workforce to 10,000 employees across the entire GCC region. The Group operates within the MENA region and specializes in various industrial areas, particularly Oil and Gas. Our expertise lies in field development projects, enhanced oil recovery, gas treatment and compression plants, refineries, petrochemicals, tank farms, pipelines, and flowlines. We also undertake maintenance contracts, including turnaround shutdowns in upstream and downstream facilities across the GCC. Our manufacturing facilities in Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia have exported a wide range of Oil & Gas equipment to countries worldwide. These facilities offer products and services such as vessels, columns, heat exchangers, skids, pipe spooling, valves & pump maintenance, weld overlay of pipes and fittings, and roto-lining of piping spools required for Oil & Gas facilities. Our subsidiaries, United Special Technical Services (USTS) and STAREF, have a strong presence in the MENA region, executing HDPE lining contracts and providing maintenance and fabrication services for Aluminum Smelters, respectively. Additionally, our subsidiary, REI Process Pty Ltd (REI), a leading process design and engineering company, has been awarded multiple projects in 2021, with execution planned for 2022/23, focusing on process cooling, gas compression, natural gas processing, and tank cooling solutions.

How important is promoting human capital and local talent within STS?

Promoting human capital and local talent is of paramount importance to STS Group. We firmly believe that a highly skilled, motivated, and engaged workforce is essential for success. Therefore, we are committed to equipping our employees with the necessary skills and competencies to maximize their productivity while maintaining a safe working environment. Supporting our employees in achieving their current and future career goals is a key aspect of our commitment. We ensure that employees at all levels have clear job-function requirements, which serve as benchmarks for performance monitoring. Adequate and effective training plays a vital role in ensuring personnel are confident and capable of performing safely and competently. Regarding local content, STS Oman is one of the largest private-sector employers in the Oil and Gas sector in Oman. Currently, we employ around 2,700 Omani nationals in various roles. We focus on quality recruitment, training, upskilling, and transparent career pathways to maximize productivity and talent retention. Our recruitment strategy for Omani nationals includes experienced personnel with the required qualifications and skillset, who undergo appropriate induction and onboarding processes. Additionally, we actively recruit fresh Omani college and high school graduates through participation in local job fairs and tours organized by the Ministry of Labor. These graduates undergo comprehensive internal and external training programs before being deployed to work autonomously at STS Oman sites. To provide internationally recognized trade level expertise training related to the construction and maintenance sector in Oman, we have the Group’s Technical Training Institute LLC. We also prioritize engaging Omani vendors and subcontractors as business partners, enhancing their capabilities and sustainability in areas such as HSE, quality, and project delivery.

What innovative technologies are you currently exploring and deploying across operations?

Continuous improvement is a key focus for us at STS Group, and we regularly review our processes and seek client feedback to enhance our operations. Given the resource-intensive nature of our core business, efficiency is vital to our success. We heavily invest in modern equipment and automation to improve productivity and reduce dependence on manpower. In terms of Information Technology (IT), we ensure that our offices are well-equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure, equipment, and enterprise applications. We operate on the Oracle JD Edwards Enterprise One ERP platform, coupled with the latest business intelligence (BI) tools for generating management information system (MIS) reports. As part of our digitization drive, we are replacing hard copy approvals with a computer-operated approval system, implementing dMACQ software hosted on an Azure cloud platform. We are also exploring unified corporate networks, data warehousing, robotic process automation, software consolidation, and platform integration across the STS Group. Additionally, technologies such as asset tracking systems using geo-fencing and RFID, learning management systems, data loss prevention software, and customer relationship management software are under consideration.

What are the main goals and growth priorities for STS in the year ahead?

In the past two years, we have undertaken various business improvement initiatives to enhance our performance in HSE, cost, and delivery. In the coming year and beyond, we anticipate the fruition of these initiatives. In Oman, we will continue to serve major Oil and Gas operators with a clear focus on In Country Value (ICV). Our manufacturing facilities in Oman will strive to secure export orders, expanding the reach of Omani products worldwide. Additionally, we are focused on expanding our businesses in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE. In Saudi Arabia, we are establishing a comprehensive industrial facility offering various services, including maintenance for Aluminum Smelters, HDPE lining, Roto lining, and Oil & Gas maintenance. In Abu Dhabi, we aim to secure more Oil & Gas maintenance contracts, while our Ras Al Khaimah facility is equipped to provide additional Oil & Gas products and fabrication services. REI, our process design and engineering company, will maintain its focus on sales performance and timely execution of projects. We are also closely monitoring developments in green ammonia and green hydrogen projects and actively exploring potential participation in these initiatives.