Troubled Aberdeen-based engineering and consulting giant John Wood Group said it has won a three-year contract to provide specialist technical support to Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) – the country’s primary oil producer.

This reimbursable contract win comes at a time of sustained growth for Wood in the Middle East, with the company recently marking $920 million worth of contract awards in the region in 2024.

“Under the contract, 65 of Wood’s engineering and project management specialists will form part of PDO’s front-end engineering design (FEED) office, delivering complex front-end energy transition and carbon capture projects for PDO,” said Wood.

“The cohort will predominantly consist of Omani nationals, reinforcing Wood’s commitment to local talent development.

“The team will be complemented by Wood’s extensive network of global experts in delivering feasibility studies, pre-FEED and FEED solutions for all stages of the oil production value chain.”

Wood said recently its shares will be suspended from trading if, as it expects, it does not publish its FY24 accounts by April 30, 2025.

Wood’s share price is down around 80% for the past year amid an independent review by Deloitte following “exceptional contract write-offs” and a “difficult” trading update for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Wood, one of Scotland’s biggest listed firms, employs more than 35,000 people in 60 countries.

Gerry Traynor, President of Eastern Hemisphere Projects at Wood, said: “Our new contract with Petroleum Development Oman underscores our commitment to providing quality, assured delivery for our clients on their critical project investments.

“Our decades of regional experience, combined with our growing portfolio, creates exciting opportunities for our people to deliver exceptional engineering and project management for energy companies like PDO that are committed to delivering a secure energy future.”