Global Courant 2023-04-20 13:56:15
The Ugandan oil and gas sector is transitioning from exploration to development, with several flagship projects underway, including the Tilenga and Kingfisher projects.
To support the growth and development of the sector, the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) is working with the Ministry of Energy, Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Uganda (OGTAU) and the International University of East Africa (IUEA) to develop the country’s first-ever Oil and Gas Skills Expo.
The theme of the Expo is “Unveiling Career and Education Opportunities in the Oil and Gas Sector”, and the main aim is to bring together stakeholders in the oil and gas sector, including employers such as contractors and subcontractors, training institutes, policy makers, associations skills development, graduates and students to share information on available job, training and career development opportunities in the sector.
Ali Ssekatawa, the Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs at the PAU, revealed during a breakfast press briefing that the oil companies’ announcement of the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Tilenga, Kingfisher and the EACOP projects will require an investment of approximately $15 billion. in this country in the next three to five years. This, he said, had opened up employment opportunities for Ugandans in the sector.
“From 2017 to date, the international oil companies have employed a total of approximately 5,876 Ugandans. This employment has brought Ugandan workers more than UGX 105,904,170,794 through labor costs,” Ssekatawa said.
In addition, Ssekatawa said 8,986 individuals were employed in the oil and gas sector, and of those, 92% were Ugandans at the end of January 2023.
“Expected employment in the sector at the peak of construction activity (2023 – 2025) is more than 160,000 with 14,000 direct jobs, 42,700 indirect, 105,000 induced jobs,” added Ssekatawa.
Scheduled for April 28-29, 2023 at the IUEA campus on Kansanga Ggaba Road in Kampala, the expo aims to showcase the latest technologies and trends in the oil and gas sector and provide a platform for stakeholders from the industry to network and exchange knowledge.
There will be exhibitions, workshops and panel discussions on a range of industry-related topics, including upstream exploration and production, downstream operations, and environmental and social management.
As Uganda’s oil and gas sector enters its development phase, the expo will help build the skills and expertise of the local workforce, create new job opportunities and support economic growth.
The completion of the Final Investment Decision (FID) by the oil companies on the Tilenga, Kingfisher and East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) projects has generated approximately $15 billion in investment in the country over the next three to five years.
The Expo is aimed at 1000 participants from, among others, employers (IOCs, contractors and subcontractors), training institutes, recruitment agencies, talent at the NOGTR, students, relevant associations and the relevant government agencies.
“The Oil and Gas Skills Expo is an important platform for fostering innovation and fostering collaboration in Uganda’s fast-growing oil and gas sector,” said the Vice Chancellor of IUEA. “We believe this expo will not only showcase the latest technologies and best practices in the industry, but also help build the skills.
“We are delighted to be working with the Ministry of Energy, the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Uganda and the International University of East Africa to bring this event to Uganda,” the PAU spokesperson added. “We believe this expo will help maximize the potential of our oil and gas sector and ensure it benefits all Ugandans now and in the future.”
