The first live gas training centre in Papua New Guinea, Kumul Petroleum Academy has received K4.5m towards the training of the first batch of intake for 2016.
The funding was presented today by PNG’s national oil and gas company Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL).
The Kumul Petroleum Academy initiative is funded by the KPHL’s participation in South Pacific Employment Institution (SPEI).
A total of 32 trainees will have an opportunity to be trained at the centre situated at the world class state of the art training facility built at a cost of K53m at Idubada near Port Moresby.
The trainees, which include four females, were selected out of 2,200 applicants for this first operations and maintenance technician program which commenced this month.
They’ll undergo 15 months outcome based training to gain international qualification in the fields of mechanical, electrical, instrument and production in the oil, gas and mineral industry.
KPHL managing director Wapu Sonk said that with the establishment of the academy, PNG will produce and supply an international certified and accredited workforce.
Sonk said the training facility will provide for the needs of other process oriented industries like Mining, Oil Palm and shipping industries.
Kumul Petroleum Academy board chairman Isaac Lupari said it’s been a long journey since taking over the facility in 2015 and was grateful for the Government’s support.
Lupari said: “We want to see that the benefits of oil and gas industry are not only revenue to Government but in terms of skilled development for young Papua New Guineans.”
The K4.5m funding will cover for 16 out of the total number of the first batch trainees while Exxon Mobil funds the other half of the batch.