Wednesday 2 February 2011

UK oil and gas training firm takes skills to Iraq

UK oil and gas training organisation Opito is to work in Iraq to develop the skills needed by the country's energy industry.

Opito this week signed a memorandum of understanding with the Iraq Ministry for Oil, Training and Development Directorate. With Iraq gearing up to produce 12m barrels of oil per day, Opito estimates the country will require a skilled workforce of around 600,000.

Opito will work with the ministry to build a learning infrastructure to provide the skills, knowledge and qualifications needed for jobs in the country's oil and gas industry.

Initially the organisation will work on the development of four national oil training institutes in Baghdad, Tikrit, Kirkuk and Basra.

Opito group chief executive David Doig said: "This is an exciting opportunity for OPITO and acknowledgement of the high regard in which our standards are held globally. But more importantly, this is a major step forward for the people of Iraq, who if they are to successfully re-build their country must create a safe, sustainable and profitable oil and gas industry.

"Working in partnership with the government and the industry in Iraq, we will set out a broad strategy which will help build the skills base through use of standards and qualifications, best practice and proven learning products."

A not-for-profit organisation with bases in Aberdeen, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur, Opito is wholly-owned by the oil and gas industry and responsible for ensuring it has a safe, skilled and competent workforce.