Oman Strengthens Health, Safety and Environment System in Oil and Gas Sector

Muscat: The Ministry of Energy and Minerals is strengthening the health, safety and environment (HSE) system in Oman’s oil and gas sector through legislation, governance, risk management and enhanced emergency preparedness, with the aim of protecting workers and the environment and improving the efficiency and sustainability of operations.

The Ministry plays a strategic, regulatory and supervisory role in developing the sector’s HSE framework. This includes enacting and updating legislation governing oil and gas activities, notably the Oil and Gas Law, which sets requirements for protecting people, the environment and property.

The Ministry also concludes concession agreements with operating companies based on technical and financial efficiency and requires them to comply with national laws, standards and regulations while adopting international best practices in their activities and operations.

As part of its governance role, the Ministry monitors the performance of operating companies and promotes continuous improvement. It also conducts field visits to assess the implementation of HSE plans across activities and projects within concession areas.

The Ministry’s strategic HSE objectives include promoting a culture of safety, supporting sustainable development, advancing the roadmap towards net-zero emissions, developing sector capabilities, enhancing emergency preparedness and response, ensuring business continuity, facilitating knowledge exchange and using data analytics to support decision-making and improve performance.

These efforts are implemented through cooperation between operating and contracting companies and relevant national authorities, strengthening coordination in protecting people, the environment and vital facilities.

The sector recorded improved HSE performance across several indicators in 2025 compared to 2024. Approximately 321 million working hours were recorded in 2025, compared to 285.5 million hours in 2024, while the distance covered by field operations increased to about 503 million kilometres, from approximately 433 million kilometres.

Despite the increase in operational activity, lost-time accidents declined by 23 percent to 30 cases in 2025. Serious traffic accidents also decreased by 33 percent to 10 cases, while no fatalities were recorded.

Engineer Zainab bint Ali Al-Saadi, Director of the Health, Safety and Environment Department at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, said that the HSE system has evolved into an integrated institutional approach covering all stages of oil and gas operations, from planning and design through operation, risk reduction and emergency response.

She explained that the Ministry is developing an integrated legislative and regulatory framework while promoting a culture of prevention and continuous improvement to protect lives, preserve the environment and maintain operational continuity in line with international best practices.

Al-Saadi attributed the sector’s improved performance to sustained institutional cooperation between public and private-sector partners, effective risk management, enhanced preparedness, investment in national competencies and the use of modern technologies to support decision-making and operational safety.

She noted that HSE measures across concession areas include management systems aligned with international standards and unified standards of the Oman Energy Association, alongside stronger field leadership and human-performance programs.

These programs include training and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing human error, encouraging early reporting of risks and enabling workers to take preventive measures, including stopping work when necessary.

The sector is also expanding initiatives focused on workers’ health and well-being, including occupational and mental health programs and improved medical preparedness at operational sites.

Al-Saadi further highlighted the development of journey-management systems in concession areas through vehicle-monitoring technologies and systems designed to detect driver fatigue and distraction. These measures are intended to improve compliance with transportation procedures between work sites and reduce risks associated with field mobility.

She added that the sector continues to strengthen compliance with national environmental requirements, while some operations have obtained international certifications in environmental management.

Carbon-management initiatives are also being expanded, including efforts to achieve zero routine gas flaring by 2030, measure and reduce methane emissions, improve energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy. These initiatives support Oman’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Ministry is also incorporating artificial intelligence, data analytics, smart monitoring systems and digital platforms into HSE operations. These technologies enable the immediate reporting of observations and incidents, improve response times, strengthen risk management and support data-driven decision-making.

The Ministry affirmed that these efforts form part of its broader approach to making health, safety and environmental protection integral to the efficiency and sustainability of Oman’s oil and gas sector, through legislation, governance, innovation, digital transformation and continuous improvement.