TOTALTEC Oilfield Services Guyana Inc. on Monday held a graduation ceremony for its first batch of oilfield operators who are now equipped with world class capacity to work in the oil and gas industry.
The TOTALTEC Academy Oilfield Safety & Operator Training and Development Program concluded last week and 22 young men, some of whom are former workers of the Guyana Sugar Corporation, completed the training which consisted of classroom sessions and real world scenarios. In two weeks, the second batch, estimated to be about 50 persons, will start their training. The duration of the training programme is nine weeks.
For the graduating batch, the best performer was Mark Bihkhari, second best performer was Dexter Vangronigen while the third best performer was Courtney John.
The programme consists of some 56 separate theory and practical based modules comprising basic safety awareness, occupational health and hygiene, safety and environment best practices, emergency response, oil and gas operations, lifting operations, transport and cargo handling and general operations including lifting and rigging, banksman/slinger, working at height, confined space entry, basic scaffolding, use of mobile elevated work platforms and counterbalance and forklift truck operations.
Lars Mangal, CEO of TOTALTEC Oilfield Services, in giving remarks to the graduands congratulated them on their stellar performance and impressed upon them not to compromise safety. He said that as the oil age dawns in Guyana in 2020, “We will need to prepare hundreds of Guyanese to be trained in the basics of oil and gas operations but first and foremost safety and safe work practices.”
He said when TOTALTEC was incorporated the first ambition was to champion and foster the development of Guyanese participation in the industry and this is what the training was meant to achieve. “In Guyana’s oil and gas industry, we will ensure that we will enable and certify so that Guyanese could actually access jobs within the industry at a faster pace,” Mangal said.
No fees
Mangal said that no fees are required from suitable candidates who apply to be part of the training. “In an effort to ensure that oil and gas capacity is built in Guyana, the key is that the most suitable Guyanese are recruited and there should be no obstacles in the way of worthy candidates. TOTALTEC has taken the commitment that no fees are paid by the participants; TOTALTEC bears all the costs of setting up the academy, the instructors, the certifications and as well shall keep the graduates on its payroll up to one year whilst in the process of placing graduates in jobs in the oil and gas industry,” he said.
Stellar performance
Michael Henzell, Senior Vice President of TOTALTEC Oilfield Services in commending the graduands said, “You guys have set the bar very high.” He urged them to keep safety in mind not only in the workplace but also in their personal lives. The second batch was challenged to meet and exceed the level of performance of the first batch.
During the ceremony, it was revealed that some of the graduates will be placed in jobs with companies such as Schlumberger, Halliburton and local company Jaguar Oilfield Services, while others will be sent to Trinidad for further training and placement.
