Management of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries have commended the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, for its welders’ training programme, stating that the welders had added significant value to the operations of the country’s refineries.

In a statement in Abuja, Head, Press and External Relations of the PTDF, Mr. Kalu Otisi, said some oil companies operating in Nigeria had started engaging the services of PTDF trained welders for the implementation of their oil and gas service contracts.

According to him, this followed the exposure given to skills and competencies of the welders through PTDF organised Post Training Attachment, PTA, programme, a practical on-the-job internship scheme that prepares beneficiaries for absorption into the industry. He noted that the PTA programme was currently on-going in the major refineries of Port-Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri.

Otisi explained that the management of the refineries also commended PTDF for the high level of training given to the welders and were encouraged by the skills displayed by the beneficiaries under the PTA.

He quoted Executive Director, Operations of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, WRPC, Mr. Ariaga Azubuike Uzoma, at the close-out ceremony of the second batch of the PTA scheme, as saying that the welders had been of immense support and have added value to the operations of the refinery plant.

At the Port-Harcourt Refining and Petrochemical Company, PHRC, Otisi explained that the third batch of the PTA scheme has flagged off.

He said, “Impressed by the diligence, professionalism and commitment to duty exhibited by the previous beneficiaries, the management of the refining company requested for an increase in the number of PTDF trained welders for enrolment into the PTA Scheme.

“In the meantime, more PTDF trained welders are being exposed to the practical on-the-job experience in the industry with the expectation of future engagement by the industry.”

Otisi stated that one of the trainees, Ibrahim Mohammed, was employed by Dorman Long Engineering Limited, oilfield equipment, marine structural engineering and Fabrication Company.

“The other is Gideon Uko, who on completion of the six months Post Training Attachment programme was engaged by Supertech Investment Limited, a contractor with WRPC that specializes in Engineering, Procurement and Construction, EPC, services,” he noted.

SOURCE: oglinks.news