Petronas oil platform simulator a worthwhile investment: Instep

KUALA NERUS: To cater for the growing requirement for skilled workforce in the oil and gas industry, Petroleum Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has invested more than RM250 million in an oil platform simulator as a training tool at Institut Teknologi Petroleum Petronas (Instep) in Batu Rakit here.
The simulator which includes both upstream and downstream simulation modules and equipped with a central control was fully operational two years ago.
Apart from training local workforce, petroleum companies from 15 countries around the world have also utilised the technical training facilities available at Instep to train their staff in the various facets of the oil and gas industry.
So far Instep has received students from Sudan, Papua New Guinea, Iraq and Myanmar and oil and gas companies such as Talisman, Shell and Exxon have sent their staff to the institute to upgrade their skills.
Production supervisor Zainudin Jusoh, an instructor at the institute, said the initiative taken by Petronas to provide this comprehensive facility for teaching and learning was timely to meet the rapid growth of the petroleum industry.
"Through the oil platform simulator, students are now able to put to practice what they have learnt and they will be fully prepared for the transition in the oil industry," he told Bernama.
According to Zainudin before the simulator was available students had to undergo practical training with oil companies.
Since its inception in 1981, Instep has trained over 12,000 technical staff. — Bernama