APPEA welcomes funding boost for oil and gas training

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) has welcomed the Western Australian government’s commitment to the development of a new specialist engineering training centre at Henderson, south of Perth.

LNG processing

According to the APPEA, the new facility will enhance WA’s growing reputation as a centre for excellence for offshore oil and gas and LNG processing.

The government’s AU$ 15 million commitment, included in the recent state budget, will double the annual training capacity from 900 students to 1800 students at Challenger Institute of Technology’s Australian Centre for Energy and Process Training (ACEPT).

Australia’s workforce

APPEA Western Region COO, Stedman Ellis, said the new facility will help train Australia’s future oil and gas workforce as projects transition from construction to operations and maintenance.

Comments

Ellis commented: “The number of operational jobs in the oil and gas sector is forecast to increase by almost 60% over the next five years when most of the AU$ 200 billion worth of projects under construction move into production.

“Investing in state-of-the-art training facilities like ACEPT helps ensure Australians develop the skills needed to secure these highly-skilled, well-paid jobs of the future.”

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/exploration/12052014/oil_and_gas_training_centre_receives_funding_401/