The Ministry of Mines, Industry and Energy of Equatorial Guinea has signed an agreement with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT Polytechnic) to provide comprehensive technical training to Equatorial Guinea nationals in Canada
The two-year programme, which will provide the students with core and specialised oil and gas knowledge, is part of the government’s drive to promote workforce nationalisation in the industry. SAIT’s International Workforce Development and Workforce Nationalization Training has been successful in transferring technology to African countries, boosting national capacity and promoting local content. This will be carried out at Calgary and Alberta.
The first partnership between SAIT and Equatorial Guinea saw the training and development of the first nationals to work in the oil and gas industry, specifically on the offshore Zafiro complex, one of the country’s largest oil fields.
The minister of mines, industry and energy, H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima said, “The Government of Equatorial Guinea is empowering its nationals with the technical tools they need to lead the next generation of our nation’s oil and gas industry so we can be better stewards of our resources.”
The plan is to provide the students with a curriculum that covers production field operations, energy asset management, maintenance of operations and electrical instrumentation and mechanical training. Underpinning the programme will be extensive safety training. Upon completion, every student will receive an SAIT Certificate of Achievement before his/her return to Equatorial Guinea.