With boundless avenues for rapid growth and transformation emerging, a concerted effort is underway to equip Guyanese for opportunities within the booming oil and gas sector.
While this accelerated growth poses many challenges, proactive measures are being employed to tackle these issues. Crafting a skilled workforce is a top priority, as part of this strategy.
The government has embarked on a nationwide campaign to provide world-class education and upskilling opportunities to Guyanese, ensuring that local content remains the pinnacle of Guyana’s oil and gas development.
As part of this agenda of bolstering the oil and gas training arena, on Friday last, a US$13 million oil and gas Facility Simulator (FacTor) was commissioned at Port Mourant.
This project is the first phase of the wider Guyana Technical Training College Inc (GTTCI), which is an alliance between the Government of Guyana and the Stabroek Block coventurers, ExxonMobil Guyana (EMGL), Hess Corporation and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).
The facility is the first of its kind in the region and is designed to give practical training for multiple programmes, enabling trainees to practice calibration, troubleshooting and maintenance activities on facilities that mirror the conditions aboard a Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.
The fully functional simulated plant can accommodate a batch of 24 students. The Department of Public Information (DPI) spoke with several students who are part of the first batch of trainees.
For Shannon Tungcap, who is a mechanical technician trainee on the project, being exposed to hands-on training, and dealing with complex equipment has been a unique learning experience.
He envisions a future where Guyanese can dominate the industry.
“I see myself moving up the chain of command within the oil and gas sector, to a position where I can advise and train other persons in similar ways,” he said.
READ MORE: Newly commissioned O&G training facility opens doors – DPI Guyana