Oil and gas skills and standards body OPITO has embarked on an international development drive with the creation of a new regional office servicing the Middle East/Africa market and a key appointment to lead business in the Asia Pacific region.
The Aberdeen-headquartered organisation, which currently operates one regional office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, aims to increase its presence and raise the bar on energy industry standards and training worldwide through the creation of a network of bases around the globe.
These offices will support the rising number of OPITO approved training providers in oil and gas provinces, linking each region to the specialist technical skills in Aberdeen.
The search has begun to find suitable premises within the Middle East/Africa region. Once established, the office is expected to have an immediate effect on the promotion of common global industry standards, whilst providing greater support to developing regions seeking improvements in both workforce safety and competence.
Meanwhile, newly appointed regional manager for the Asia Pacific region Peter Lammiman, 44, will play a significant part in OPITO’s overall growth strategy. With more than 20 years experience in the oil and gas industry, Mr Lammiman will be responsible for leading business development in the Asian Pacific region from the Kuala Lumpur office.
“The regional oil and gas operators, contractors and workforce in general have benefited greatly by having a permanent OPITO presence within the region and I am looking forward to raising our profile in the region and promoting OPITO’s key aims of raising the bar on standards and safety within the industry.
“Companies will benefit through gaining more knowledge regarding other OPITO products and services which are currently not widely used in the region, these services will contribute to increasing workers competence thus improving operational safety performance.”
OPITO’s strategic role lies in identifying current and future skills needs and ensuring that education and training arrangements are in place to meet them. It is also the body responsible, on behalf of the offshore oil and gas industry, for ensuring the quality and content of key safety and emergency training.
Chief executive David Doig said: “International business is now a significant element of the OPITO business model with 22 countries now using the OPITO standards. An increased local presence in key areas around the globe is key to sustaining the existing OPITO market and enabling the continued export of product excellence from the UKCS.”
OPITO
OPITO is headquartered at Portlethen, near Aberdeen. Its first regional office, in Kuala Lumpur, was established in 2001.
OPITO has signed a number of overseas deals in recent months, evidence of the widening esteem in which it is held. Most recently, OPITO entered into an agreement with the Thai and Indonesian governments to establish new training and safety standards frameworks for the countries offshore workforce. Talks are also underway with the Mexican government for the creation of a similar scheme. OPITO has recently been conducting a pilot scheme in the Middle East to create new safety training standards for offshore employees working with hazardous materials.
Issued on behalf of OPITO by The BIG Partnership. For more information contact:
Zoe Corsi on 01224 578172 or 07973 983 243
Laura Grant on 01224 578179 or 07813 880496
Posted by Online Data on Thursday, January 10, 2008 09:37
Location Aberdeen
Category Oil Industry Organisation Information
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