The $18.2m purpose-built Oman Oil and Gas Institute, a centre for training the next generation of energy workers, has been officially opened in Innovation Park Muscat.

It was inaugurated by the chairman of The Research Council, Sayyid Shihab Bin Tariq al-Said, an adviser to His Majesty the Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said al Said.

It is the first-of-its-kind research complex in Oman dedicated to the training and development of the next-gen oil and gas workforce.

The institute is designed to be a pioneering and specialised institute in the training and qualification of engineers and geologists, providing them with the necessary skills to develop and sustain the Sultanate's oil and gas resources.

It is established on a total area of 4,800 square metres, which contains a number of facilities, including a technical training centre, lecture halls, halls for workshops and simulations, classrooms, laboratories and a service building.

Assistant secretary general for Innovation Development at The Research Council, Dr Fahd bin Al Julanda al-Said, who attended the inauguration, said: “We believe the Oman Oil and Gas Institute will make a significant contribution to the development of human resources and capabilities [because it will] employ scientific research and innovation to address the industry's challenges facing human capital.”

It was built as part of Oman's five-year plan to enhance scientific diversification in the country, as it aims to develop innovations and technology to maximise the potential of the country's oil and gas sector, a vital pillar of Oman's economy.

The Institute required 218 Primera Pacific seats with a concealed tablet arm (CTA).

The Pacific is the auditorium seat of choice where comfort and durability are the primary concerns.