Guyana’s offshore workers getting first in-country oil & gas training centre

3t EnerMech, a strategic alliance between 3t Energy Group and EnerMech, has revealed plans to launch Guyana’s first oil and gas training centre in collaboration with Orinduik Development and Windsor Technologies. The facility will support in-country skills, safety training and certifications for the local offshore workforce.

3t EnerMech reported on Wednesday that its venture with Orinduik Development Incorporated Training Centre would deliver Guyana’s first in-country training facility – named the 3t EnerMech Guyana Training Centre of Excellence – for the local workforce, supporting the development of the country’s fast-growing offshore oil and gas sector. 

Paul Knowles, VP Training for 3t Energy Group, commented: “With Orinduik constructing the 3t EnerMech Guyana Training Centre of Excellence, coupled with our expertise, technologies, and programmes, we are providing a full package to help support the country’s personnel to excel in the oil and gas sector. We are very proud to play a critical role Guyana’s future and enhance its economic prosperity by making accredited skills and safety training available in-country for the first time.”

The new 3t EnerMech Guyana Training Centre of Excellence, which will be established to empower and provide Guyanese with key skills and training certifications that are required to work in the offshore environment, will combine expert instruction in-classroom training facilities, blended learning software and technology, as well as fully immersive simulators for high hazard activity learning.

It is set to become the first regional Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) internationally accredited training provider in Guyana and Orinduik, Windsor and 3t EnerMech have invested over $20 million into the infrastructure.

Harrychand Tulsi, Chairman of Orinduik, explained: “Construction of the Training Centre is expected to be completed in June 2022 and we are very excited to be partnered with 3t EnerMech in delivering world class training and certifications as we build a skilled and safe local workforce for the expanding offshore market.”

The 3t EnerMech Guyana Training Centre of Excellence will also deliver the country’s first OPITO approved, Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET) certification. In addition, it will provide a controlled environment to deliver scenario-based firefighting emergency response training when relevant accreditations are secured early in 2022. 

Furthermore, 3t EnerMech explains that Orinduik is also in the process of building Guyana’s first commercial heliport as part of a wider complex that will incorporate the new training centre, an aviation/marine Polytechnic School as well as a hotel and business centre.

Joseph Lichon, President Americas for EnerMech, remarked: “It’s our mission to develop local content globally and to help create safer, smarter, more sustainable workforces. Until now, Guyana nationals working in the oil and gas sector would be required to travel to Trinidad and Tobago, the US or Canada, for accredited training, making it very costly and time-consuming. This is compounded by the logistical challenges of the pandemic including travel restrictions, additional requirements, and limited flight availability.”

The new training facility will be located in Lusignan, in close proximity to the East Coast Highway, approximately 10km east of Central Georgetown, and placed strategically for easy access for both local and international delegates working in the offshore market.

When it comes to recent exploration and production activities in Guyana, it is worth reminding that following the two oil discoveries – located in the prolific Stabroek block offshore Guyana – in January 2021, ExxonMobil started production from the second phase of its Liza project, making it Guyana’s second offshore development now in production.