(Front, from left) SKK Migas chairman Dwi Soetjipto, Petronas president and group chief executive officer Datuk Tengku Muhammad Taufik and Izhar visiting the PIPC exhibition booth on the first day of the international oil, gas and petrochemicals conference at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
Johor Petroleum Development Corporation Bhd (JPDC) has produced about 6,000 skilled workers through upskilling and reskilling training programmes.
Two key initiatives – the Skills in Oil and Gas (Soga) and Bridging Gaps programmes with funding from the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister’s Department – have helped them to prepare the manpower while meeting the needs of downstream oil and gas activities at the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) in Johor.
JPDC acting chief executive Izhar Hifnei Ismail said the figure included over 1,800 workers who had completed or were currently taking the Soga programme.
Soga was developed to equip Malaysian workers with the relevant mandatory certifications and skills competencies required by companies conducting downstream oil and gas-related activities in PIPC and other parts of the country.
The programme, which has been running since 2020, offers 40 technical courses for those involved in plant turnaround, maintenance, repair and overhaul works, safety management and energy management, which are critical for the operational phase of PIPC’s facilities.
JPDC plans the courses based on skill sets required by companies and the courses are conducted by 14 public technical and vocational educational and training (TVET) institutions in Malaysia.
All 1,505 participants of Soga held in 2020 and 2021 found employment upon completing their courses.
At present, 305 youths from Pengerang are undergoing various Soga 2022 courses, which will prepare them for employment with five turnaround main mechanical and maintenance mechanical static (TA4MS) contractors for Pengerang Integrated Complex (PIC) developed by PETRONAS and located within PIPC.
Izhar said the second initiative, the Bridging Gaps programme, began in 2016 with emphasis on providing Malaysia’s technical and engineering university graduates with experiential training for them to acquire skills and gain better understanding of the roles of refinery plant engineers, field engineers and maintenance engineers in a downstream oil and gas facility environment.
A total of 700 Malaysian university graduates took part in the Bridging Gaps programme held from 2016 to 2021, with about 70% being able to secure gainful employment in the downstream oil and gas industry in Malaysia.
Fifty participants are currently going through the programme this year.
Apart from the two programmes, JPDC also organised training courses for construction workers involving various trades and skill sets required by contractors during the construction of PIC from 2015 to 2019.
Izhar spoke at JPDC’s appreciation ceremony for downstream oil and gas employers participating in and supporting both programmes on the first day of the international oil, gas and petrochemicals conference at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
At the ceremony, JPDC and Malaysian Oil & Gas Services Council (MOGSC) exchanged letters of understanding to collaborate in developing skilled manpower and establishing a sustainable business ecosystem for the downstream oil and gas industry in PIPC and Malaysia.
The tie-up will focus on three main areas, namely in jointly developing and executing technical- and skills-based manpower training and job placement; establishing a platform for Malaysian and Pengerang contractors to enhance their capabilities and get the necessary qualification to serve the industry and encourage and promote MOGSC membership among downstream oil and gas contractors.
JPDC also presented letters of appreciation to PETRONAS Refinery and Petrochemical Corporation Sdn Bhd (PRPC), the industrial park developer and manager of Pengerang Integrated Complex and PETRONAS’ Group Procurement for Southern Region for their role in coordinating and enabling five TA4MS contractors for PIC to participate in Soga programme 2022 as industry employers.
The five TA4MS contractors – Highbase Strategic Sdn Bhd, Shapadu CR Asia Sdn Bhd, STS Edac Engineering Sdn Bhd, Enproserve (M) Sdn Bhd and Dialog Plant Services – were also presented with letters of appreciation by JPDC, along with Kopeja Oil and Gas Sdn Bhd, a Pengerang-grown downstream oil and gas contractor.
They are collectively committed to hire 305 Pengerang youths upon completion of their Soga training this year.
Trainees from among Pengerang youths are recruited by JPDC with assistance from Koperasi Pengerang Jaya.
Intekma Sdn Bhd received a letter of appreciation from JPDC for its participation in the Bridging Gaps programme 2022 involving 50 Malaysian university graduates.
Izhar said JPDC was a subsidiary of Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC), and both agencies ultimately report to the EPU.
JPDC’s mandates include being the lead agency for the planning and coordination of downstream oil and gas industry development in PIPC, promotion and facilitation of inward-bound investments in downstream oil and gas and petrochemicals into PIPC, development of industry-ready manpower as well as facilitation of participation by local workers and business people in PIPC economic growth.Izhar said JPDC was privileged to be able to collaborate with significant industry players in delivering its mandates in providing opportunities for the Malaysian, Johor and Pengerang communities to be part of the economic growth.
He was also confident that JPDC’s expertise, experience and examples in developing PIPC as a downstream oil and gas and petrochemicals hub would be good references for other similar planned developments in Malaysia.
