Physically setting up an industrial plant could mean a lot more bother than just finding capital and investigating the availability of raw materials and the prospects of markets. Notwithstanding the availability of funds and markets, the promoter could still be stymied if his environmental impact assessment (EIA) provided a less-than-sanguine picture. Rather than suffer disappointment at a critical stage in the run-up to installing the plant, project organisers now approach EIA specialists to enlighten them on the environmental pitfalls that would otherwise go undetected by the untrained eye.

Oman's Geo-Resources Consultancy (GRC) has stepped in to bridge the gap in expertise. Established in 1999, it provides specialist water, environmental and geotechnical consulting services.

"We offer comprehensive consultancy packages for project planning, design, management integration and supervision of work along with other types of advisory services," says managing director Ahmed Al Ghafri who is himself a geologist, having graduated from the University of Qatar and completed his master's degree at the University of South Carolina, US. Al Ghafri has also worked in senior positions at Oman's Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Regional municipalities and the Environment and at the Oman Mining Company.

Over the past year, the company has been awarded a number of contracts for the execution of hydrogeological and groundwater-modelling studies, many of which are to assist reservoir flood operations. Most recently, the company was successful in being awarded the Qarn Alam project for Petroleum Development Oman (PDO).

Al Ghafri states: "We have been very pleased with performance over the past year and look for continued growth within Oman and the Gulf region. We believe that our commitment to quality and cost-effective solutions has been rewarded and that we have now firmly established GEO-Resources Consultancy as a leading player in both the water and oil and gas sectors of Oman".

This is evidenced with awards from the largest private and public sector organisations of Oman - PDO, Occidental and Japex and the Ministry of Water Resources. The company is also encouraged by significant interest in its water and environmental services to support a variety of development projects including mining ventures, bottled water plants, town supplies and general infrastructure development.

Al Ghafri advises: "We expect sustained growth in all of these areas in Oman with the unfolding of the economic diversification programme and anticipation of increasing corporate responsibility, and possibly government regulatory measures, for water conservation and environmental protection".

Acknowledging that aspects of the market elsewhere in the Gulf region may be different from those in Oman, Al Ghafri comments that "there are differences in some areas but the fundamentals of water and environmental issues are basically constant and opportunity for success will be provided with sound technical knowledge, familiarity with local practices and consistent commitment to quality services and the provision of cost-effective solutions".

Geo-Resources Consultancy's commitment to quality standards and augmentation of services is reflected in its business plan for 2001-2002.

This includes the appointment of one of the world's most experienced Middle East hydrogeologist/water resources planners who has senior management experience in both public and private sector agencies and wide international experience in the region. "Expanding our skills and management base is a necessary step for growth but we are also looking to establish a higher degree of client contact and offer greater potential for focusing of services to meet specific client requirements," observes Al Ghafri.

In water resources, GRC expertise covers management, technical support for groundwater drilling, exploration and aquifer testing, groundwater remediation and modelling, network management, geophysical and climate investigation of groundwater, monitoring of surface and groundwater networks and conservation and awareness programmes.

The environmental issues GRC tackles are in the areas of geo-environmental baseline studies, social and economic impact assessment, environmental policy and strategic planning, contaminated transport modelling, geo-coastal development, geo-pollution management and geo-physical and chemical evaluation of contaminated groundwater.

In mineral assessment, GRC looks at site identification, deposit analysis, geological mapping, reserves estimates and project feasibility studies. Geotechnical investigations for business and industrial site planning, design and construction cover such matters as site selection and investigation, field drilling, soil and rock sampling and geophysical investigations. The company's advisory services in risk management include flood control, leakage control and sediment and erosion control. One of the services it offers is organising field trips to explore Oman's unique and impressive ecological diversity. GRC, using its extensive network in the Omani earth sciences and environment sectors, its links to international consultancy organisations and its access to the latest developed research and experts worldwide, has succeeded in the last two years in winning over several government and private sector clients.

Al Ghafri's service in Omani government departments dealing with water resources and the environment and his stint at Oman Mining Company have given him a unique background in the application of earth sciences and their significance in industrial development.