International oil and gas skills organisation, OPITO has expanded its global footprint of accredited training providers with the approval of the first company in China.
According to OPITO, north and south China has seen a significant rise in oil and gas activity in recent years with a growing workforce engaged in the country’s burgeoning energy sector. Estimates for oil potential in the South China Sea alone range from 700 million to 125 billion barrels. Exploiting the reserves is likely to see increasing demand for skilled and competent workers across the region, OPITO said.
The accreditation of Shenzhen Safeway Technology Service (SSTC) in Guangdong Province makes OPITO’s global safety and training standards available to the indigenous Chinese offshore oil and gas workforce for the first time.
SSTC has been initially approved to deliver the Authorised Gas Tester (AGT) Level 1 to 3 training and expects to conduct additional OPITO-approved courses going forward. The training provider is currently in the process of seeking OPITO accreditation for courses, including Major Emergency Management Initial Response, Offshore Installation Manager and Basic H2S training.
Group chief executive officer David Doig said: “There are currently no mandatory requirements for oil and gas personnel in China to be trained to OPITO standards however there has been an increasing awareness of their value in ensuring the competency of the offshore workforce and dramatically improving safety levels.
“OPITO exists purely to improve the safety of the oil and gas workforce and to ensure that people return home safe at the end of the day. As oil and gas activity increases in China, this accreditation marks another move forward for OPITO in the drive towards common safety standards in the industry around the world.”
SSTC delivers training to the oil & gas, nuclear, chemical, transportation, engineering construction and manufacturing industries.
Richard Guangfu Feng , managing director of Safeway Technology Services said: “ Gaining OPITO approval is a significant achievement that further demonstrates our commitment to delivering health and safety training across China. It also supports our ongoing efforts to help the global energy industry create a safe and skilled workforce, now and for years to come.”