Technical courses to Guyanese for careers in oil industry being offered by GOAL

Government has announced that they are now offering training programmes for technical work
in the oil and gas industry, through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).
Deputy Director at GOAL, Ronald Singh said the programme will begin this year, targeting
about 150 students. He noted that entire spreads have been taken out in the daily newspapers,
urging Guyanese to apply for the programmes being offered by 3T EnerMech, a world-class
workforce development company. He said that with decades of leadership, having trained
hundreds of thousands across the globe, 3T EnerMech is bringing its expertise to help Guyanese
workers take over the oil and gas sector.
Singh stressed that the government recognises that it is not enough to just mandate that Guyanese
be given opportunities in the oil and gas industry. Persons have to be trained as well. He noted
that 3T EnerMech’s blended technical training programme will be delivered in three stages.
First, participants will undergo an online pre-learning assessment lasting two hours. They would
then undergo an online safety passport lasting 18 hours on average, which will prepare them to
navigate work environments according to international safety standards. The GOAL senior
official noted that upon successful completion of the two stages, participants will be provided
with a recommendation of one of three technical pathways:
1. Rigging and Erecting
2. SMP (Safety Management Pack) Operative
3. Fabric Maintenance, Coating, Scaffolding
He stressed that this stage of training will be delivered practically at 3T Enermech facilities in
Guyana. He said that successful participants would receive the United Kingdom accredited
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) Level one qualification, positioning
them to effectively operate in the oil and gas industry. He pointed out that to be eligible, persons
only need a minimum of five CSEC/GCE subjects (including Mathematics and English), and
access to an internet-ready computer. Interested persons should visit www.goal.edu.gy and apply
before the December 8 deadline. Singh said that prior to the initiation of the technical
programme, GOAL introduced multiple Masters level degree programmes which will position
Guyanese for careers in the oil and gas industry. He declared that the government also intends to
train locals through other means.

Meanwhile, the Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said earlier this month “early next year, we
will start building out a national training institute that will hopefully train over 1,000 persons per
year. We’re looking to train now maybe 600 to 700 welders in a short-term certification
programme. This is not just putting in place the framework, but also putting in place the
mechanism to ensure that the companies comply with the obligations. It is also about training
people to ensure that they can access opportunities.” VP Jagdeo had stressed that the government

is preparing to take local content legislation to Parliament before year-end. The draft Bill, which
is currently being circulated in its consultation stage, seeks to carve out most of the industry for
locals. Jagdeo had stated that specific to GOAL’s technical training programmes, the
government’s draft Bill calls for companies’ technical core staff to be 20 per cent Guyanese in
Upstream operations, and 30 per cent in Midstream and Downstream operations from the
inception. The companies would be given 10 years to gradually increase the percentage of
Guyanese occupying these technical posts to at least 75 per cent Upstream, and at least 70 per
cent Midstream and Downstream.
He noted further that the draft Bill also calls for locals to provide 80-100 per cent of fabrication,
construction and storage services required for oil and gas operations by the end of the 10-year
period.