By George Busiinge

Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK) will this year start training and carrying out a competency assessment of 201 potential oil production operators, maintenance and inspection technicians slated to work in the Tilenga Oil Project.

Bernard Ongodia, the Principal UPIK, who was speaking over the weekend in Kiryandongo District during the commissioning of the institute’s new state-of-the-art facilities and training equipment noted that they have already signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tilenga oil Project operator, TotalEnergies E&P Uganda.

According to the arrangement, students in this cohort will study for three years; starting with receiving instruction from staff members employed by the institute. Later, they will receive training from both local staff and expatriates working in the oil fields and will also be sent for a year of off-shore training.

To Ongodia, this partnership will propel the educational institution to new heights by exposing their staff and students to international oil and gas specialists and boosting their potential to develop the skills necessary for Ugandans to profit from the sector.

Earthfinds understands that those who will take part in the training have already been selected through the Tilenga Massive Open Online Courses, a free online programme which was launched at the beginning of 2022.