UMS committed towards supporting O&G agenda
Published on: Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is committed towards supporting Sabah's agenda in the highly-skilled human capital development as well as providing a platform for nurturing young entrepreneurs in the oil and gas sector through university-industry smart partnerships.This was being done through the university's newest business platform, UMS Oil & Gas Sdn Bhd (U-OIL) and its Faculty of Engineering, said the faculty's Dean, Prof Dr Rosalam Hj Sarbatly.Rosalam was updating Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan on the progress of the UMS Oil and Gas Training and Certification Centre during a courtesy call at Tan's office in Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens.
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Also in the meeting were delegates of the Consortium for Technical Young Talent Services Contractors, represented by young Sabahan entrepreneurs (Alhambra Petroleum Sdn. Bhd., Commerce Galaxy Sdn. Bhd., Petrofiq Sdn. Bhd. and Petrocore Sdn. Bhd.). The consortium was established by Rosalam to be a platform for nurturing young Sabahan entrepreneurs to be capable and sustainable; strengthening Sabah's active participation in the oil and gas industry support services sector.Rosalam also reported that another company, Sitegroup International Ltd (SGI) would be offering internationally-accredited and employer-customised vocational training and competence assurance programmes in partnership with U-OIL, to the oil and gas industry in Sabah. "In addition, a world class Training and Competence Assurance Facility to be constructed within the UMS campus is currently planned. This facility will include a "Safe Live Process Plant" (SLPP); a realistic industrial oil and gas facility that will provide a safe and controlled environment for new and experienced trainees to develop practical skills and enhance competency," he said.
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According to him, construction of the multi-million dollar facility will begin as soon the feasibility study conducted since April 2015 is completed (currently entering its final stages). The construction of the facility is expected to take nine months, and its first intake of trainees are expected in the last quarter of 2015.
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He also told Tan that another U-OIL partner, Kudat Offshore Oil and Gas Sdn Bhd, is establishing an Offshore Safety and Induction Training Centre. While the OPITO (Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation) certified Tropical Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (TBOSIET) course would also be offered to provide participants with an understanding and awareness of the hazards encountered when working on offshore installations and travelling via helicopter. Uniquely, the SLPP (SGI) will be linked to the Survival Pool equipped Offshore Safety and Induction Training Centre, offering Emergency Response and Escape Training, he said.Also in partnership with U-OIL, Alhambra Petroleum Sdn Bhd through its subsidiary, Altronik Sdn Bhd will be offering internationally certified specialised training courses and services in instrumentation and control engineering (such as Siemens and Yokogawa systems) to facilitate industry needs; specifically, for the oil and gas industry.Silver Ridge Sdn. Bhd in partnership with Commerce Galaxy Sdn Bhd and U-OIL on the hand aimed to provide a platform to nurture young ICT entrepreneurs especially in businesses related to fibre optic infrastructure; to achieve sustainable ICT based human capital development initiatives.Director of Zone 2 Industries Sdn Bhd (training provider for IECex based competency training) Tan Hwa Tong who was also in the meeting later described Tan as an energetic market driven Minister who shares his prestigious view on the current and future of Sabah oil and gas industries. "His aim of increasing more oil and gas activities within Sabah and attracting more specialists in this industry to Sabah with collaboration and joint ventures with local entrepreneurs and corporations. "We are glad to have invested in Sabah with our collaboration with U-OIL and be part of the fast growing O&G activities here in Sabah."The purpose of the meeting with Tan was to strengthen networks, specifically between industry players and UMS with the Ministry, and with the State government in general. The discussion agenda revolved around human capital development in the now booming oil and gas sector; highlighting updates on recent UMS collaborations with industry and key strategies for supporting the State Government's goal to develop and train more Sabahans to become highly skilled workers.Tan on his part shared the latest development and vision of the State in developing the oil and gas sector in Sabah. The Minister had also emphasised the significance of collaborations with the Ministry, industry players and the role of the university to achieve the aim of Vision 2020; especially with respect to becoming a nation of high income earners.At the end of the meeting, Tan concluded that he was happy to see the materialisation of collaborations between UMS and industry players. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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