MUSCAT: Sayyid Hilal bin Badr bin Ali Al Busaidi, wali of Sohar, expressed his admiration and support on Vale’s holistic approach to sustainable development adopted towards local communities in its worldwide operations and specifically in Oman, as the world’s largest producer of iron ore prepares more than 100 Omani engineers, technicians and operators to embark on phase two of their intensive 18-month training programme.

With a focus on bulk port and material handling, pelletizing operations, safety and environment, maintenance and quality control, Oman, Japan and Brazil have been selected to host the intensive training programme which will arm the recruits with first-hand experience and exposure at grass-root levels.

The programme also aims to prime the students for the commencement of Vale’s operations in Oman in the end of 2010 by working closely with experienced professionals on some of the world’s most advanced operating systems in the business. The training institutions include, Oman Cement Company in Muscat, Kobe Steel in Japan and Vale’s Port and Pelletizing Plant in Vitoria, Brazil.