KPO HOSTS OPITO GRADUATION CEREMONY
AKSAI, Western Kazakhstan Oblast, 4 August 2009 – Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO) announced today that 98 Kazakh trainees have been awarded with Higher International Certificates from the OPITO Oil & Gas Academy.
The Production Operators and Maintenance Technicians Professional Development Programme based on UK Oil & Gas Academy’s Modern Apprenticeship Scheme (OPITO) is the most reputable international professional institution in oil and gas industry. KPO is the first company in the CIS to run OPITO certified training.
At the Graduation Ceremony, welcoming the graduates and dignitaries from RK Ministry of Labour, KazMunaiGas, WKO and Burlin Akimat, KPO General Director, Roger Fox said: “At Karachaganak we aim to share our knowledge and expertise with our Kazakh colleagues, partners and contractors. Capacity building through sustainable development and skills transfer are central to the way we work.
“We have put in place long term development programmes and we are pushing forward with our nationalisation agenda. Since signing the FPSA, KPO has invested over US$96 million in training and development initiatives. Currently, 44 per cent of managerial positions at KPO are held by nationals and 85 per cent of professional and supervisory positions”, added Roger Fox.
Abiroy Technical Training General Director, Dastan Kokeyev said: “The programme we delivered in Kazakhstan completely follows the methodology, structure and content of OPITO scheme. All trainees are selected through aptitude testing, looking for abilities to learn at technical disciplines.”
“On average, trainees take some 80 exams during theoretical part of the programme. Upon completion of the Higher International Certificate (HIC) and Petroleum Processing Technology Certificate (PPTC), trainees are assigned for on-the-job training. The training scheme provides an opportunity for high performing individuals to secure employment with KPO. To date 14 trainees are now working directly for KPO”, added Dastan Kokeyev.
In June 2009, 113 trainees have started OPITO Programme.
Earlier this year, 19 local employees of the company have successfully completed a certified programme in management, delivered by the UK Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM).
In addition, 19 KPO employees have received the internationally recognised National Examining Board for Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) certificate. To date 80 national KPO staff holds this prestigious qualification. In addition to formal education, KPO also utilises ‘on-the-job’ training and parent company placements. On the whole, in 2008 and 2009 KPO trained 40,908 people, including contractors.
