Our 6 AM beach excursion group is up to three who enjoy people watching and shelling. Local morning tidal patterns are changing, there are 20 – 30 yards of exposed beach instead of the approximately 100 yards of walked in the last few days.
Today we need the fresh air before we travel two and a half hours up the coast to Sohar, to visit the new port and the university, and return to Muscat in time for a reception at the residence of the American Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission. The University of Sohar is a private institution established in 1979 in connection with Queensland University, Brisbane, Australia. They were pleased to explain their ambitious expansion program (40 % of new construction cost to be from the government), showed us around the campus, and hosted a pizza and KFC lunch where we could talk with students (exams ended recently) and faculty. Sofar is interested in student exchanges with American colleges and universities.
The pace of change in Oman is clearly embedded in the Sultanate’s commitment to education, much of it funded by rapid and diverse industrial development. The Port of Sohar is an indication of this expansion process. Opened less that five years ago near the strategic site of the ancient trading city, Port Sohar is an industrial park with a refinery, petro-chemical, bitumen, aluminum, and desalination plants, each having dedicated power sources. Currently with an 18 to 20 draw the port will soon have a 23 draw capacity, rail connections to Muscat, a “free zone”, and open a new area to increase the size to 4,500 hectares.
Photographs are not allowed within the port area - here is a refinery photo taken from the perimeter road.
No comments:
Post a Comment