The first phase of the Guyana Technical Training College at Port Mourant, Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne) was commissioned on Friday, a move President Dr. Irfaan Ali describes as an investment in the country’s future.
The first phase of the project encompasses the Facility Simulator (FacTor), a state-of-the-art training facility that provides practical oil and gas training.
President Ali said this first phase cost US$13 million (or $2.6 billion). It was completed as part of an alliance between the Government of Guyana and the Stabroek Block coventurers, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Hess and CNOOC.
SBM Offshore Guyana oversaw the design and construction of the FacTor unit.
“(This is) $2.6 billion invested in the future of our country,” the Guyanese Head of State said.
This first phase of the project was completed in about eight months but it was conceptualised two years ago.
The FacTor facility can accommodate up to 24 trainees for each batch, with four trainers across four disciplines: Mechanical, Instrumentation, Electrical, and Production.
President Ali said the second phase should be completed by the end of 2025, catering for expanding technical training including in the areas of welding and construction.
Already, students from SBM Offshore’s graduate trainee programmes are receiving practical training at the facility. They first received theoretical training in Canada. And Dr. Ali said the new training college is part of the government’s plans for developing technical skills locally.
“This, of course, is part of a training infrastructure and ecosystem that we are building for our young people across the country,” President Ali said.
A new hospital is being constructed in New Amsterdam and that will be a teaching facility backed by the University of the West Indies’ School of Medicine. The President also revealed that the government is in talks with the UWI’s School of Nursing so that this school will accredit the new nursing school being built in Region Six.
And a new hospitality institute is also part of plans for the region.
