A head of the International Oil and Gas Conference to held in Uganda from May 9th to 11, 2023, the International University of East Africa has organised the first oil and gas skills expo -slated for April 28th and 29th at the IUEA campus in Kansanga Ggaba Road, Kampala.
The expo will showcase the latest technologies and trends in the oil and gas sector and provide a platform for industry captains and key stakeholders to network and exchange knowledge.
According to the Director Legal and Corporate Affairs at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) , Mr. Ali Ssekatawa, Uganda’s oil and gas sector is transitioning from exploration to development, with several flagship projects underway, including the Tilenga and Kingfisher projects.
in order to support the growth and development of this nascent sector, the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) will partner with the Ministry of Energy led by Minister Ruth Nankabirwa and the technical wing led by the Permanent Secretary , Eng. Irene Bateebe -together with the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Uganda (OGTAU), and the International University of East Africa (IUEA) to organize the country’s first-ever Oil and Gas Skills Expo.
Eng. Irene Bateebe is the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy overseeing the development of Uganda’ oil and gas sector
The theme of the Expo is “Unveiling career and training opportunities in the oil and gas sector,” and the main objective is to bring together stakeholders in the oil and gas sector, including employers such as contractors, and sub-contractors, training institutions, policy makers, associations in the skills development space, graduates, and students to share information on the available opportunities for employment, training, and career growth in the sector.
Ssekatawa explained that the announcement of the Final Investment Decision (FID) by the oil companies over the Tilenga, Kingfisher and the EACOP projects, unlocked an investment of around $15billion in this country over the next three to five years. This he said had opened employment opportunities for Ugandans in the sector.
“From 2017 to-date, the International Oil Companies have employed a cumulative number of around 5,876 Ugandans. This employment has fetched Ugandan employees over UGX 105,904,170,794 through the payroll costs,” Ssekatawa noted adding that 8,986 persons were employed in the oil and gas sector and of these, 92% were Ugandans as at the end of January 2023.
“The expected employment in the sector at the peak of construction activities in the next two years -(2023 – 2025) is over 160, 000 with 14,000 direct jobs, 42,700 indirect, 105,000 induced,” Ssekatawa stated .
At the expo, latest technologies and trends in the oil and gas sector will be projected and the event will provide industry players with a platform to network and exchange knowledge and ideas on how to not only grow the sector but also identify job opportunities for Uganda’s largely young population. There will be exhibitions, workshops, and panel discussions covering a range of topics related to industry, including upstream exploration and production, downstream activities, and environmental and social management.
The expo comes at the right time when Uganda’s oil and gas sector enters the development phase. There is un urgent need to continously develop and bridge the skills gap ,create new employment opportunities and supporting economic growth.
The completion of the Final Investment Decision (FID) by the oil companies over the Tilenga, Kingfisher, and the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) projects- which was overseen by President Yoweri Museveni early last year , has unlocked an investment of around $15 billion in the country over the next three to five years.
The Expo will target 1000 participants from employers (IOCs, contractors, and subcontractors), training institutions, recruiting firms, talent on the NOGTR, students, relevant associations, and the relevant government agencies, among others.
IUEA Vice Chancellor Dr Emeka Akaezuwa said:“The Oil and Gas Skills Expo is an important platform for driving innovation and fostering collaboration in Uganda’s rapidly growing oil and gas sector,”
“We believe that this expo will not only showcase the latest technologies and best practices in the industry, but also help to build the skills. We are excited to partner with the Ministry of Energy, Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Uganda to bring this event to Uganda,” he added.
PAU spokesperson Gloria Sebikari said: “We believe that this expo will help to maximize the potential of our oil and gas sector, while ensuring that it benefits all Ugandans, both now and in the future.”
