7 Ugandans complete oil and gas processing course in T&T

Presdient Yoweri Museveni (in shirt) posing for a group photographs with Ugandan Students who completed Courses on Gas and Oil in Trinidad and Tobago, 3rd right front row in Prof. Kwesigwa Charles Kwesigwa of Nakawa Industrial Reasrch Institute and Education Minister Jesca Alupo (3rd left) at State House Entebbe on September 6th 2012. PPU photo by Jacob Kalibbala Kato The first batch of Ugandan students that had enrolled for an 11-month course in oil and gas processing at the Kenson School of Production Technology Limited in the Caribbean Island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, have successfully completed their training.

The students underwent the City and Guild Level 3 International Vocational Qualification Advanced Diploma in Oil and Gas Process Technician program.

At the end of the course that ran from October 2011 to August 2012, each of the students received an Advanced Award in Oil and Gas Process Technician (Core Skills) and International Vocational Qualification Advanced Diploma in Oil and Gas Technician.

The Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Jessica Alupo, presented the group to President Museveni at State House, Entebbe yesterday in the company of Prof. Charles Kwesiga, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nakawa-based Uganda Polytechnic Vocational Training Institute.

The newly trained Oil and Gas technicians also pursued an additional course leading to an award of a certificate in Production Safety Systems. The training was meant to enable each of them to personally engage in installing, inspecting and routinely maintaining surface devices to ensure safety and prevent pollution during the process of off-shore platforms oil and gas production.

The first commercial discovery of oil in Uganda was made in 2006 in the Lake Albert area in Western Uganda. 20 oil and gas discoveries have since been made with 5 of these already at Field Development Stage.

According to the Training Director, Lance Dowrich, the 7 technicians are now ready to play key roles in the nascent Ugandan oil and gas economy as the petroleum sector moves forward to the next phase of development.