The Government plans to establish an energy institute in Point Lisas to harness Trinidad and Tobago's vast experience in oil and gas. Science Technology and Tertiary Education Minister Fazal Karim made the announcement last Friday as he turned the sod for construction of the National Energy Skills Centre (NESC) Hall of Residence facility at Point Lisas.
The Minister said plans for the institute were confirmed following discussions with Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine, University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) chairman Curtis Manchoon and NESC chairman Feeroz Khan. He said the institute will be the "first of its kind" and will upgrade the workforce in the sector. "We have many companies from abroad that have located here and do work in energy sector and I think we need to harness the presence of those kinds of capacity.
"In addition, we also need to prepare the workforce to ensure we have the skilling and re-skilling of the workforce to ensure our energy sector is very competitive in the world at large," Karim said. He said talks are in progress with Petrogras in Brazil on collaboration with the institute, as well as linkages with other oil producing countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia.
"One of the benefits will be to harness and co-ordinate all the major stakeholders in the energy sector for the benefit of the sector for the people of Trinidad and Tobago," he said. Karim said his Ministry is concentrating on having the institute located on the Point Lisas Industrial Estate and he has identified the NESC compound and the UTT campus as two proposed locations.
The sod was turned for construction of a facility with 46 double occupancy rooms, a community kitchen, gym, entertainment centre, Internet (wireless) kiosk and reception/lobby area. Six deluxe rooms will also be constructed for executive stays. The cost of the facility is yet to be finalised. Karim said it developed out of the need for accommodation for Nigerian students studying at NESC as part of an agreement with Nigerian firm QESS Consulting and the Government of Nigeria.
QESS chief executive officer Godfrey Paul handed over a US$150,000 cheque as advance payment for rooms at the facility when it is completed in the last quarter of this year. He also pledged to bring in 100 students each year over the next three years to access training at NESC. Karim explained that educational institutions under the ministry are undergoing changes and re-branding to streamline operations.
The UTT Point Lisas campus will be re-branded UTT Energy Campus, UTT San Fernando will be re-named Engineering and Manufacturing Campus and the John Donaldson Institute will be the Creative Campus. The re-branding, he explained, is part of the new "dynamics, thrust and focus" of the ministry.