-President Ali says multi-discipline campus will provide world-class certification, put economy on firmer footing

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Friday, commissioned Guyana’s first state-of-the-art oil and gas training facility – The FacTor (Facility Simulator) – at Port Mourant, Berbice, Region Six.

The US$13 million (GY$2.6B) project is the first phase of the wider Guyana Technical Training College Inc.

“This is not about oil and gas. This is about the transformation of our country and the building of world-class facilities that will not only train and equip our human resources with the skill set, but give them world-class certification that they will get anywhere else in the world. That is what is critical,” the Head of State said during his address to a large gathering of residents and stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.

The project was constructed through an alliance with the Government of Guyana, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Hess and CNOOC.

“It will be the first multi-discipline campus built to cater for the future needs of the country’s economy,” President Ali said.

The facility was conceptualised just two years ago to offer technical and competency-based skills training for young Guyanese.

“We have carefully calculated what we want to achieve here to ensure that quality infrastructure, quality human resource trainers, quality development partners…it is bringing quality together to give us the output that we’re celebrating today.”

He stressed the importance of empowering people and building capacity, noting that the government is making investments in training and upskilling its populace, especially the young people.

The facility is said to be the first-of-its-kind in the region.
Meanwhile in further stressing the importance of empowering people and building capacity, Martin Cheong- General Manager, SBM Offshore said the facility will play a major role preparing the industry for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

“This state-of- the art training facility marks not just an achievement for SBM Offshore Guyana, but a significant milestone for the industry and the nation, Cheong said, adding:

“This facility will play a pivotal role in preparing our workforce for the challenges and opportunities of the oil and gas industry. It will ensure that our trainees are not only equipped with theoretical knowledge but also with hands on experience and the confidence to excel in their respective fields.”

According to Exxon Mobil’s lead country manager, Allistair Routledge, The FacTor is one of less than ten facilities across the world, which he said speaks to the country’s commitment to advancing the industry.

“We are committed to bringing people giving them the opportunity in the country to be part of the development of the of the nation’s resources. And not just the people that live in Region Six, but there will be an accommodation facility as part of this development. So whichever part of the country you come from, you have that opportunity on an equal footing to come and get that training,” Routledge said.

The FacTor training site consists of classrooms, workshops and the FacTor module.

The facility is designed to provide practical training for multiple programmes, enabling trainees to execute practice operations, troubleshooting, and maintenance activities in an environment that mirrors real-life plant conditions.

Mediums such as water and air will be used at the facility. This design is considered safe for training. Several major pieces of equipment to simulate the process conditions on an FPSO in a safe and controlled environment is also featured.

The facility can accommodate up to 24 trainees for each batch, with four trainers across four disciplines – mechanical, instrumentation, electrical, and production. The facility is designed to recognise industrial standards used in the oil, gas, and energy industry worldwide.

It is expected that the facility will generate a positive impact on the local oil and gas sector by providing trained technicians who will have the relevant competencies and skills to execute their roles offshore.

Recruitment applications are open to all Guyanese who meet the entry requirements.

To enter the SBM Offshore Trainee Technician Program, individuals are required to hold a minimum qualification of a two-year Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) certificate.