Head of Trinidad and Tobago’s Permanent Local Content Committee, Jemma Langley, Thursday advised Suriname to conduct a gap analysis.
In the context of local content and the oil and gas sector, a gap analysis would measure the actual capacities and manpower available among the local workforce to supply the industry, against demand.
According to the T&T local content expert, a gap analysis is critical now more than ever, given Suriname’s current juncture in the development of its oil and gas industry.
The Dutch-speaking nation has been producing oil onshore on a small scale for years but recent discoveries in its offshore Block 58 by Apache Corporation and TotalEnergies have now created a new market and a bigger chain of development in new territory. And this will require skills that may not be available.
“These energy companies operate by competencies. So, you need to start mapping the competencies of the citizens. Based on that information, you then can plan for the long-term,” Langley advised.
As the country now seeks to expand local capacity for the growing sector, Langley advised too that Suriname should consider the development of a Project Portfolio that tracks activities in the sector.
“This will also provide Suriname with a clearer picture of the movements along the value chain… You are not only looking at exploration and development but the entire value chain,” she pointed out.
This, the T&T local content expert said, will also allow ordinary citizens to cash in on the sector and promote maximum local content.
Staatsolie chief executive officer, Annand Jagesar, told OilNOW that the Suriname Local Content strategy and policy are being drafted by a multi-disciplinary work group.
“Taking in the lessons from other countries, it’s being developed through broad collaboration with representatives from the Government and the business society,” Jagesar said. “When doing so, the most important guideline will be that the policy should benefit Suriname and the people of Suriname in the long run.”
He noted that policy will still leave plenty of opportunities for foreign companies as well.
Over in Guyana, the country recently enacted a Local Content Act to ensure maximum participation from Guyanese in its oil and gas sector.
The Guyana government also plans to undertake a review of its local capacity in support of oil and gas operations by the end of 2022 to determine whether the targets outlined in its Local Content law need to be adjusted.
