TOTALTEC Academy aims to train 500 in vocational skills for the oil and gas industry
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DPI, GUYANA, Thursday, February 8, 2018
A new vocational academy is aiming to develop the competencies of Guyanese to work in the oil and gas industry.
Today, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman turned the sod for the International Petroleum and Maintenance Academy located at the Gafoors complex, Huston East Bank Demerara.
(From left to right) Senior Vice President Business Development, Brian Chia, Chairman of TOTALTEC, Lars Mangal, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman and Managing Director of Guyana Shore Base Incorporated Glenn Lockwood.
Minister Trotman commended the local company, TOTALTEC Oil Services, for the initiative and pledged the government’s support towards the academy. “Government will seek to ensure that you have a steady flow of applicants and persons who will come through…you can be assured that government will support this initiative 100 percent.”
Chairman of TOTALTEC, Lars Mangal, said Schlumberger is a strategic partner in the development of the academy. Schlumberger is a leading service provider in the oil and gas industry.
“Our plan is to have around 500 Guyanese come through this centre over the next few years. So, we really have a vision for really accelerating local content development and making this a huge success for Guyanese participation in the industry in the coming years,” he said.
Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman officially turns the sod to begin construction of the International Petroleum and Maintenance Academy.
Senior Vice President of the Business Development, Brian Chia, noted that the Academy will be targeting retrenched sugar workers as part of its efforts to develop the local content capacity for the industry. “We are hoping to take people like the sugar workers who are already good technicians, good mechanics but get them ready for the oil and gas industry.”
The Academy is expected to provide hands-on vocational training for those who aspire to work in the industry. Mangal explained that First Competence, a Scottish consulting company, has been awarded a five-year contract to be the preferred training partner.
TOTALTEC will be training 25 persons it has pre-qualified for training. These will serve as local trainers at the academy. Mangal noted that through Schlumberger, a classroom has been established at the Gafoors complex as the construction of the academy gets underway. The company will soon begin advertising for applicants to the academy, Mangal added.
TOTALTEC is a company that aims to train locals, work with local companies and international companies that want to work with Guyanese Chia told the media. It is also one of the partners in Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYSBI). GYSB won the contract to operate ExxonMobil’s onshore facility to support its offshore development.
By: Tiffny Rhodius
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