The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) International is looking to deepen its support for Guyana’s workforce development efforts as the country expands technical training for the oil and gas sector.
Susan Howes, incoming President of SPE, raised the issue during a panel discussion last week at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, where government and private sector representatives were discussing labor shortages and capacity building in Guyana’s rapidly growing economy.
“How else can we support Guyana in this capability development journey?” Howes asked.
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Howes said she recently delivered a virtual webinar to the SPE Georgetown Section and wanted to explore additional ways the organization could assist with training and professional development in Guyana.
Kathy Smith, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), said local business organizations are already partnering with international groups to expand training opportunities across multiple sectors. She said the GCCI, Private Sector Commission, World Trade Center Guyana and other organizations regularly collaborate with overseas partners on seminars, conferences and technical programs aimed at strengthening local capacity.
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“We’re always looking for international organizations like yourself to sign MOU agreements with our different members to promote this,” Smith said.
SPE is a global professional association for engineers, geoscientists and technical professionals in the petroleum industry. The organization provides technical training, industry certification support, conferences, research publications and knowledge-sharing programs across major oil and gas producing regions.
Guyana has been ramping up technical and vocational training as oil production expands offshore. The government recently established an oil and gas training institute with support from ExxonMobil and its Stabroek Block partners. The facility will provide internationally recognized certification programs for Guyanese seeking employment in the sector.
