Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhy

Position: Minister of oil and gas

Biography: In a country where oil and gas activity accounts for 45 per cent of gross domestic product, Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhy is one of the sultanate’s most important figures. His efforts are focused on addressing concerns that Oman’s oil reserves could run dry within the next two decades.

In April 2006, he announced that the government planned to invest $10bn in upstream oil and natural gas projects over the next five years. He has put his weight behind the country’s enhanced oil recovery programme, and is working hard on Oman’s ambitions to develop its gas-based industries, especially petrochemicals and fertilisers.

Appointed minister of oil and gas in 1997, Al-Rumhy played a key role in lobbying fellow GCC oil ministers as part of Opec’s effort to prevent oil prices falling. In April 2003, he was appointed chairman of Petroleum Development Oman.

Contact: (+968) 2469 9475