The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, during the weekend charged the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) to synergize with oil companies to carry out extensive research on how the country can quickly boost it’s crude oil output of about 2.2 million barrels per day to 3 million.
Sylva who gave this charge during the 2019 Graduation Ceremony of PTI, Effurun, Delta State, also charged the institute to come up with a strategy or proposal on how to assist the agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s zero loss of crude oil output, reduction in cost of crude oil production, eradication of gas flare and development of the country’s enormous gas reserve.
Represented by the Director/Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Kamaru Busari, Sylva said, “Most importantly, bring up initiative towards the realization of Mr President’s June 12 promise to take 1,000 Nigerians out of poverty in the next ten years.
“As the hub for training and retraining of personnel for the Petroleum industry, not only in Nigeria but Africa at Large, you need to create synergy between the institute, relevant institutions and agencies in the sector to make meaningful impact in the oil and gas industry.
While urging PTI to collaborate with other institutions in areas of training and research, Sylva urged the Petroleum Training Development Fund (PTDF), the Nigerian Content and Management Development Board (MCMDB), the NNPC and other IOCs, to offer scholarship and research grants to deserving students and graduands, as well as finance special projects and patronize the institute in building their employee capacity.
He urged the graduands as ambassadors of the institute, to remain focus and use their skills to build the petroleum industry and move the nation forward.
On his part, the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa promised to collaborate with the institute in it’s quest to fulfill its mandate.
Chairman, PTI Governing Council, Ahmad Shakur, said he was confident that under the new leadership of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, PTI will witness unprecedented change and would be taken to the next level inline with the agenda of Mr President.
He said the institute was poised to improve competent skilled training in line with global best practices, adding that this would be achieved with the introduction of professional Certification to students.
Shakur said plans were been concluded for the construction of the Institute’s Modular Refinery, noting that when completed the Modular Refinery is expected to process 1,500 barrels per day crude oil.
“It is also expected to generate electricity. The project, which has enormous academic benefits, would be used for practical teaching and industrial attachment training for students.
“It would also serve as center for research and development, and would have some other commercial streams which will generate more revenue for the Institute,” Shakur said.
The Principal and Chief Executive of PTI, Sunny Iyuke in his welcome address said a total of 1,122 graduands received the Institute’s prestigious Diplomas and Certificates.
He said 543 graduands will be awarded National Diploma, 575 graduands will be awarded Higher National Diplomas, while four graduands will receive the PTI General Welding Certificate.
He said the institute has continued to play the leading role in the development of fit-for-purpose Technologists and Technicians for the Petroleum industry.
Iyuke who reeled out some of the ongoing projects and achievements of the institute said the Institute has completed the the preliminary design for the Modular Refinery but lamented that the next stage of development and equipment procurement was a huge challenge due to paucity of funds.
Francis Sadhere, Warri
