THE PETROLEUM Commission (PC) is to construct a Welding and Pipefitting Centre at the Takoradi Technical University (TTU) campus to train professional welders for the oil and gas industry under the Ghana Welding Bureau (GWB).
The move forms part of government’s agenda to train Ghanaians for available jobs in the upstream oil and gas sector through the Accelerated Oil and Gas Capacity Building Programme.
It is also part of efforts to enhance the country’s local content participation in the oil and gas industry.
According to the Petroleum Commission, welding as a technical skill is relevant in the upstream petroleum industry.
Egbert Faibille Jnr, Chief Executive Officer of the PC, disclosed this at a Consultative Meeting with Welders across the western region.
According to him, the Ghanaian welding industry, aside from its informal nature, is dominated by ‘street welders’ and saddled with many challenges.
“There is a lack of qualified and accredited training institutions, and there is a situation of almost zero regard for Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) matters,” he stated.
He bemoaned the fact that Ghana lacked a professional body to regulate the vocation in the country.
That, he said, necessitated the establishment of the Ghana Welding Bureau, which is mandated among other things, to provide regulatory direction and certification for the welding vocation in line with international best and acceptable practices.
He recounted how Ghana had to lose revenue to expatriates some time ago because a company that had won a contract to carry out a major pipe-laying project in Ghana, sought to bring in 200 expatriate welders and pipefitters.
“My outfit had to work out for resident and other permits to enable the expatriates live and work within a period in the country,” he said adding that “The justification was that Ghana had no welders and pipefitters of acceptable standard.”
He revealed that the PC was facilitating for Ghanaian welders to join the Ghana Welding Bureau.
He expressed the hope that such an initiative will help many Ghanaians in the welding industry to qualify for jobs in the oil and gas sector, since activities in the sector are highly regulated and certified.
Dr. Paul Frimpong, a facilitator, explained that the GWB was a non-profit and non-governmental body.
“It is responsible for the certification and registration of companies and individuals involved in welding and allied operations,” she added.
FROM Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi