KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is set to have its first full-fledged industrial training centre soon, set up by Petronas in tandem with the development of its various oil and gas projects in the state.
Expected to be completed by April next year, Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd yesterday sealed the partnership by signing a joint venture with K.K Dinamik Sdn Bhd and K.K Success Vision Sdn Bhd after the contract was awarded to the two companies on December 30 last year following a competitive bidding exercise.
The scope of work under the RM30.6 million contract comprises the construction of a double-storey training and administration building, a three-storey hostel, outdoor training facilities and related infrastructure as well as the provision of other related services.
It will be built on a three-acre site in Kimanis, located some 65 kilometres from here at the main road from Papar to Beaufort.
Once completed, the new facility will replace its temporary premises in Membakut and will be instrumental in helping to nurture the capability of Sabahans to meet the growing manpower needs of the oil and gas industry in Sabah.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai represented Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman in witnessing the signing ceremony to formalise the contract held at the Menara Petronas here.
Petronas Sabah and Labuan Regional Office general manager Joseph Podtung said they would continue to nurture and encourage capable Sabahans and Sabah-based companies to participate in the oil and gas industry.
“Petronas had recently decided that Sabah-based companies will be given the priority for tenders worth RM2 million and below, which do not involve the use of high technology.
“To date, between 2009 and last year, some 70 contracts worth over RM900 million were awarded to local-based companies in the state,” he said.
Podtung, who is also the Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd head of Sabah operations, also hoped that through the collaboration, it would encourage other Sabahan companies to be more involved in the industry.
Meanwhile, K.K Dinamik executive chairman Datuk Ajit Galun, expressed gratitude to Petronas for the opportunity to work on the prestigious project.
“We hope it would enhance our capability to participate in bigger and more complex future projects in Sabah and elsewhere. We are committed to delivering the project as per the terms of contract,” he said.
Second intake for the courses at the KTC is in July this year, where Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia holders with passes in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mathematics and Science are encouraged to apply.
The programmes offered are divided into two categories, namely full-time training which is targeted for developing youth to enable participation in the industry, such as Industrial Instrumentation and Control (two-year programme under the Human Resource Ministry’s Department of Skill Development); and part-time training (targeted to be offered to industry workers) for Offshore Safety (BOSET) – compulsory training for offshore workers; construction safety courses – scaffolding, rigging, lifting and wielding inspection.