KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 13): Johor Petroleum Development Corporation Bhd (JPDC) has produced about 6,000 skilled workers through the Skills in Oil and Gas (SOGA) and Bridging Gaps programmes since these programmes were first introduced.

Acting chief executive Izhar Hifnei Ismail said JPDC is striving to prepare manpower to meet the needs of downstream oil and gas companies in the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) and the rest of Malaysia.

“A total of 1,800 workers who participated in the SOGA programme successfully improved their technical skills with the level of competence and mandatory certification related to the work carried out.

“Meanwhile, Bridging Gaps has successfully placed 70% of trainees, consisting of university graduates, in downstream oil and gas companies in Malaysia since it was first introduced in 2016,” he said.

Izhar Hifnei spoke at JPDC’s appreciation ceremony for downstream oil and gas industry players supporting the initiatives during the international oil, gas and petrochemicals conference, OGA x MOGSEC & PSC 2022, at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from Sept 13 to 15.

The SOGA programme, which has been running since 2020, offers 40 technical courses, which are critical for the operational phase of the facilities in PIPC, conducted by 14 public technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in Malaysia.

A total of 1,505 participants in the programmes as of 2021 had found employment upon completing their courses, while 305 youths from the Pengerang sub-district are undergoing the same course.

Both programmes received funding from the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department, amounting to RM8.4 million per year.

Meanwhile, Izhar Hifnei expressed his gratitude for the cooperation given by the main industry players in implementing the economic mandates entrusted to JPDC.

“I am also confident that with this initiative, PIPC can be developed to become a hub for downstream oil and gas and petrochemical industries in future,” he added.

The ceremony was attended by industry players’ representatives, including Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Corporation Sdn Bhd (PRPC), Petronas Group Procurement Department South Region, and five related contractors.