Training process plant to be built in PNG as Site continues expansion

TRAINING organisation Site Group will build a live oil and gas process plant facility in Papua New Guinea for training purposes.

Site said the US$4 million oil and gas training safe live process plant, to be built in Port Moresby, would be the first of its kind for the country.

When completed, in roughly eight months, the plant would boast live process systems, a centralised control room, emergency protection systems and an electrical distribution centre, establishing it as a real life scenario training and assessment facility.

Construction of the facility will be funded by a joint venture between government owned National Petroleum Company PNG (NPCP), South Pacific Employment Institute (SPEI), human resources firm Orion Group, PNG’s Enga Children’s Fund and Site.

Programs provided at the Site facility will include competence based operations and maintenance technical training and assessment.

It will be similar to another facility established by Site in Myanmar.

Speaking to PNG Resources, Site managing director Vern Wills said the facility was particularly important in providing the infrastructure in PNG to enable local people to attain the technical skills and qualifications required to fill high-end, long-term, sustainable jobs in the growing gas processing and LNG industry.

“In many countries in emerging economies, the big projects start and the high level jobs go to expats, so this is about changing that balance and giving people a pathway,” he said.

“The only way to provide people with a pathway is to give them the skill set. The focus here is very much on PNG nationals.”

In a joint statement, SPEI and NPCP said their objective was to create long-term sustainable employment opportunities for PNG nationals to participate meaningfully and be included in higher end employment opportunities in the oil and gas sector.

NPCP managing director Wapu Sonk said the development of capability to create world class competencies in-country is a critical requirement for PNG.

“NPCP has carried out investigations into the necessary infrastructure required to best develop and train a highly competent national workforce.”

“Having had the benefit of researching the necessary componentries, NPCP is working with SPEI to develop a suite of necessary facilities that currently do not exist in this country,” Mr Sonk said.

Orion country manager Nick Smith said SPEI was a private public partnership focused on industry training and is a first for the whole South Pacific area.

“The Institute has modern ethos with a focus on creating an environment which develops competencies and real employment outcomes through running courses based on industry and client demand,” Mr Smith said.

The announcement came after Site acquired Perth-based training firm Wild Geese, which also supported the move.

“The only way to provide people with a pathway is to give them a skill set.”

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