The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) says it will soon start sending drilling engineers for training at the French Institute of Petroleum in France.
Mr Kalu Otisi, PTDF, Head of Media, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that the training was part of Federal Government’s plan to boost daily oil production.
He said the four-month programme, which will start in August, would enable qualified Nigerians to acquire the right training and certification to operate in the Nigerian Oil and Gas sector.
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) says it will soon start sending drilling engineers for training at the French Institute of Petroleum in France.
Mr Kalu Otisi, PTDF, Head of Media, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that the training was part of Federal Government’s plan to boost daily oil production.
He said the four-month programme, which will start in August, would enable qualified Nigerians to acquire the right training and certification to operate in the Nigerian Oil and Gas sector.
“Currently, Nigerians do not have the right training and certification to operate in the oil and gas industry which is very critical.
“As a result of this we have now decided to start this programme; it is a four-month programme and will take place in one of the internationally recognised drilling institutes in France.
Otisi decried the lack of trained manpower, especially in the upstream sector of the Oil and Gas industry, adding that the PTDF was committed to reversing the trend through capacity building.
“We have some oil fields that have not been explored and it is only through drilling that you can determine the yield of any oil field.
“The programme is critical to increasing our oil reserve, and daily production to about four million barrels per day from the current 2.5 million barrels per day.’’
He said the Fund had also begun the training of Nigerians in welding as part of efforts to empower them to take control in the fabrication, repair and maintenance of oil pipelines and vessels.
Otisi said PTDF was working with relevant stakeholders to enable the Nigerian Institute of Welders to build synergy with the International Institute of Welders so that Nigerians could acquire the international certificate necessary to work in the industry
“First, we needed to ensure that the national body of welders is recognised by the international body, which we have done by meeting certain mandatory obligation.
“As we speak now, we have a national body that has been certified and we have been able to train over 20 welders, who have been certified to train local welders in institutions that have been certified to train welders.’’
He stressed the need for Nigerians to acquire the necessary skills to enable them fit into the oil and gas industry, saying that the industry was still dominated by expatriates.
Otisi said PTDF was working to strengthen its partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board in order to “ensure that trained professionals are absorbed by the International Oil Companies in the country on completion of their training’’.
Mr Olayinka Agboola, PTDF Head of Nigerian Content, Upstream Department, told NAN that 15 professionals would be trained in the first phase of training for drilling engineers in France.
He said the training would be a continuous exercise until the skills gap was filled.
“The PTDF is committed to making the Nigerian oil and gas industry vibrant through training and active participation of Nigerians in the sector.’’
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