OPAZ conducts a workshop on environmental procedures and legislation in the special economic zones and free zones

OPAZ conducts a workshop on environmental procedures and legislation in the special economic zones and free zones

Muscat - 03 July 2023

The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), represented by the Compliance and Environmental Affairs Department, organised a workshop on general environmental procedures for specialists from OPAZ and the affiliated zones. A number of other stakeholders from different parties concerned about environmental permits issuance also took part in the workshop.

The workshop highlighted the experiences of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm and the free zones in Sohar, Salalah and Al Mazunah with regard to developing environmental legislation and regulations in the compliance and environmental affairs sector and the procedures followed in line with the expected expansion of projects and activities in these zones, in addition to discussing the best and latest practices and experiences in this field.

Organising this workshop comes as part of OPAZ efforts to bring the highest standards of compliance with environmental requirements in all operations and unify environmental procedures in all special economic zones and free zones that are overseen by OPAZ in order to facilitate the procedures for investors, save time and effort, improve work efficiency, and manage roles and responsibilities between OPAZ and the zones. Accordingly, this will contribute to creating an attractive investment environment.

The workshop concluded with a number of recommendations, most of which is the establishment of a unified guideline for general environmental requirements for all projects and their various categories. The guideline will be implemented in all the zones as it will contribute effectively to strengthening performance governance and procedures in regards with environmental compliance and legislation. Further, it will measure the compliance of projects and companies with the environmental requirements, facilitate procedures for investors, ensure quality and integration, and save time and effort for the specialists in the environmental affairs and compliance departments of OPAZ, the affiliated zones and other beneficiaries.

It is noteworthy that the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) issued earlier this year a decision regulating the environmental procedures for the zones supervised by OPAZ. The decision included several articles such as permits, environmental studies and oversight, environmental monitoring procedures, collection of reports, data and information, and compliance procedures in all zones. The decision No. (37/2023) also included a number of procedures for issuing permits and environmental studies and determining commitment of the zones to issue and renew environmental permits and licenses for all projects therein, and to review environmental studies and environmental impact studies.