BP Oman hands over training facility of technicians to Opal
MUSCAT: BP Oman on Monday formally handed over its stateof-the-art technicians training facilities to the Oman Society for Petroleum Services (Opal). Opal will now take responsibility for expanding these to benefit Oman’s wider oil and gas industry.
The facilities, based in Muscat, were handed over in a formal ceremony under the patronage of Eng. Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Oil and Gas and attended by senior dignitaries from Ministry of Manpower, BP Oman and Opal.
Star status
With its own use of the facilities now complete, BP Oman has donated them to Opalin order to support the wider development of Omanis, in the sector, according to press release issued by the company.
They will henceforth be known as the Opal Star (standards for training, assurance and recognition) Centre, which is the first in the country to be awarded Star status. Open and accepting applications from Monday, it will be at the heart of the Opal Star Learning Hub, providing specialised oil and gas training to build the skills of diploma graduates and meet the requirements of the major employers in the sector. It will also set the standard for training excellence and provide assistance to other training providers, both private and state owned, to improve delivery quality and achieve standardisation in course content across the sector.
In its former guise, graduate BP technicians underwent training at the facilities, which included actual size, world-class equipment, to gain hands-on experience in a safe environment under the supervision and guidance of trained instructors.