[Oman-l] Oman news from GulfWire #100 (11-17 June 2001)

[Joachim Duester]

Below find some recent news and links to news about Oman from
http://arabialink.com/GulfWire/GULFWIRE.htm


ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE
Muscat, June 13 (ONA)-Dr. Khamis bin Mubarak al-Alawi, Minister of
Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources will preside
over the opening of the International Environmental Conference at Muscat
Intercontinental Hotel on Sunday June 17th under the title " Environmental
Horizons." .The conference will discuss several working papers on
environmental issues, such as, protection of Marine environment,
desertification, managing environmental sanctuaries besides environmental
information, ways of developing resources and other important
topics. Environmental issues had been given special attention by His
Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and that was evident in the issuing of laws,
environmental standards and measures to guarantee achieving the balance
between the requirements of the development and improving the country's
National economy, besides that the Sultanate was the first Arab country to
establish a ministry for environment in 1984.
Source: Oman News Agency
http://www.omannews.com/headeng.htm

SULTANATE IN FOREFRONT TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION
Muscat June 13 (ONA) - MUSCAT - The Sultanate represented by the Ministry
of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources will join other
countries of the world on Sunday in celebrating the world day for combating
desertification.  The celebration is organized by the United Nations program
for the environment and the secretariat of the United Nations agreement for
combating desertification. The Sultanate has applied several programs and
projects to protect productive lands and develop pastural and desert areas
in corporation with the ESCWA, the FAO and the United Nations program for
the environment. It is noteworthy that the United Nations agreement for
combating desertification agreement was launched during the Earth Summit
held in Rio in 1992. The Sultanate joined as per Royal Decree No. 5/96 in
order to cooperate with the international community to curb risks of
desertification. - ONA Oman News Agency
http://www.omannews.com/headeng.htm

OMAN PUMPS $580 MILLION INTO DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
ON HIGH OIL PRICES
"It was possible to implement in 2000 some of the projects planned for the
years 1998 and 1999 which were postponed because of the drop in oil
prices".
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=715615446&Section=Markets&page=Money

BANK MUSCAT SIGNS 30-MILLION-DOLLAR LOAN FOR OMAN AIR
FLEET EXPANSION
The first phase of syndication from local banks to finance Oman Air's
lease-cum-purchase of five new generation Boeing 737s.  Complete report.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=715638841&Section=Industries&page=Financia
l_services

OMAN LNG SIGNS SPOT SALE AGREEMENTS
The deals marked a significant breakthrough in Oman LNG's efforts to
consolidate its presence in the fiercely competitive transatlantic energy
market.  Complete report.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=ZAWYA20010607105120&Section=Industries&pag
e=Energy

BANKS NAMED FOR $233 MLN OMAN POWER PLANT LOAN
A private power plant in the southern city of Salalah. "WestLB
(Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale) of Germany and France's BNP
Paribas have agreed to be joint lead arranger of the loan to finance the
construction of the plant,".
http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_r.asp?StoryId=992272132n0531450