OPITO, in collaboration with PETRONAS, launches Decarbonisation Training Certification to address critical energy workforce skills gap

The certification builds on a programme originally developed by PETRONAS, Malaysia’s integrated energy company and INSTEP, its technical training institute for the energy industry. To date, approximately 102 employees across PETRONAS’ operations have completed the training.

The qualification has been formalised and scaled by OPITO into a globally recognised, credit-rated qualification designed for application across the wider energy sector, targeting Decarbonisation Focal Points, Sustainability or Climate Specialists, GHG Accounting and Reporting Analysts, Energy Efficiency or Electrification Engineers, and CCUS related technical or project roles.

As investment in low-carbon technologies continues to accelerate, many organisations face a more fundamental challenge: ensuring their workforce has the capability to design, evaluate and implement decarbonisation strategies within live operations. This certification is designed to address that gap by equipping professionals with both the technical knowledge and practical skills required to translate net-zero ambitions into tangible outcomes.

The programme combines core modules in climate science, greenhouse gas accounting, carbon pricing and emissions reduction strategies with a focus on real-world application, including project management and economic evaluation. Delivered over multiple days, the credit-rated qualification enables learners to build transferable capabilities that can be applied across roles, sectors and geographies, supporting a more consistent approach to decarbonisation delivery.

Lucie Booth, Product Development Manager at OPITO, said: “The industry is not short of decarbonisation ambitions – the challenge is translating that into operational reality. This certification has been designed to close that gap. By formalising an industry-proven programme into a globally recognised qualification, we are creating a benchmark for capability that can scale with the energy transition and move with the workforces across roles, sectors and regions.”

Charlotte Wolff-Bye, Vice President & Group Chief Sustainability Officer, PETRONAS, adds: “Decarbonisation stalls when teams use different tools, terminology, and no shared method. This certificate changes that: one practical pathway and one recognised standard, so you can cut emissions on the job with confidence. It’s also proven with more than 100 PETRONAS and INSTEP trainees, the programme now gains OPITO credit-rating and recognition, making capability credible, portable, and understood across the industry.”

Ts. Azhar Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer, INSTEP, adds: “This training was built around real operational needs. Through its formalisation by OPITO, that practical foundation can now be delivered more consistently and at scale. It gives learners the ability to apply decarbonisation principles directly within their roles, supporting safer, more effective implementation across a range of energy environments.”

The qualification will be rolled out across OPITO’s global centres of excellence to offer a structured pathway for energy professionals supporting decarbonisation initiatives across the energy sector. For more information on OPITO’s Decarbonisation Training Certification, click here.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/special-reports/25082026/opito-in-collaboration-with-petronas-launches-decarbonisation-training-certification-to-address-critical-energy-workforce-skills-gap/