Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited through its training entity, the Kumul Petroleum Academy (KPA) is expanding its training capacity by building a new training facility next door to its Fabrication Facility, now under construction near the PNG LNG Project Plant site at Caution Bay. As part of its expansion plans, KPHL recently signed a ‘Manage and Operate’ agreement with Site WorkReady Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Site Group International Limited.
The scope of the Manage and Operate Agreement will see professionals with the experience to run the Academy provide industry oriented skills training in oil and gas, mining, marine as well as in general infrastructure industry. This will all be done in a real-life training environment.
Both organisations share the ultimate goal of implementing real-life training environments to create long-term sustainable employment and opportunities for Papua New Guineans. This is to ensure greater participation during construction and operations of our resource projects.
Kumul Petroleum Holdings managing director, Wapu Sonk said, “We are passionate about investing in programs and projects that will upskill and develop our young Papua New Guineans so that they are ready for the projects that are coming online now. But more importantly, one day we can own, develop and operate our own resource development projects at lower operating costs than what we experience today, where capital and skills are imported at a huge cost to the country.
“Once our training facility comes into operation, it will significantly increase the range and scale of our technical training activities. It will also see the launch of engineering work experience programs in the country,” Mr. Sonk said.
Site International Operation Managing Director, Vern Wills said, “The new development at Caution Bay will be operational in 2 years and the training offered there will include a number of Site’s unique `barrier to entry` training modules, including underground mine simulation, engineering and electrical services, shut down services, ‘Safe Live Process Environment’ based engineering and leadership programs.”
The new Kumul Petroleum Academy facility will have the capacity to train 350-400 trainees while the current facility at Idubada can facilitate 80-100 trainees. Both training sites will be graduating 400-500 trainees per year, contributing to the upskilling of human capital for various industries in Papua New Guinea, as well as the export of skilled Papua New Guineans to positions outside the country.
