Friday 10 / January / 2025
Muscat: For the first time in Oman, a bus, valued at OMR190,000, will travel across the Sultanate next year to educate children on ways to keep the environment clean.
The Oman Environmental Services Holding Company, beah, signed an agreement with public transport company Mwasalat, Monday, to supply, operate, and maintain the bus.
“The bus is expected to be ready for service by the end of 2017 and to start operating in the first quarter of 2018,” said Tariq Al Amri, CEO of beah.
Al Amri revealed in an exclusive interview with the Times of Oman that four more buses are expected to be operational by 2020. “We are planning to have a fleet of buses visit schools and educate children on good habits for protecting the environment across Oman,” he remarked.
The bus will employ interactive educational methods to help children understand and enjoy learning about the environment, according to a press release.
Al Amri said the bus will also take part in the Muscat and Salalah festivals as well as religious celebrations to promote concern for the environment amongst children and adults.
Mwasalat CEO Ahmed Al Bulushi noted that the upcoming bus will be 12 meters long.
“This is the first bus of its kind in the region, and we are calling on companies to join the project as part of their CSR,” an official at beah declared.
The custom-built bus has been designed to travel over long distances with ease.
According to Mwasalat, the bus will be equipped with the most advanced interactive technology to enhance the public’s understanding of environmental issues.
Asked why the bus will be running on diesel despite its environmental message, Al Bulushi stated, “It is not easy in this part of the world to use electric vehicles because the air conditioning systems require lots of energy.”
The Mwasalat CEO urged oil-producing companies to provide higher-quality diesel.
“In Europe, they use diesel engines with very low emissions. Moreover, it is very difficult to drive long distances while dependent on a battery or electricity. “These buses have large engines,” he added.
