East African countries are struggling with the challenge of how to speed up the training of oil and gas engineers after unanticipated and continuing discoveries have positioned the area as a future global oil hotspot, according to South African newspaper Business Day Live.
Tanzania may have 40-billion cubic metres of gas, expected to double by 2015, while Uganda has an estimated 3.5-billion barrels of oil. Kenya’s deposits may be up to 10-billion barrels.
Authorities in the region, in need of new financial sources to cover increasing budget deficits and finance infrastructure, have been putting pressure on exploration companies to start pumping oil and gas. The lure for money and agitation for equity in distribution of oil and gas wealth by local communities have reduced focus on the priority issue of training local oil and gas human resources, industry players said.
The dearth in local experts has paved the way for skilled labour from the Middle East and West Africa where oil and gas extraction is already established.
Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda have sought the assistance of the African Legal Support Facility that helps countries negotiate better contracts and build oil, gas and mining human resources to avoid future conflicts and guarantee future benefits from oil, gas and other mineral wealth.
Tanzania may have 40-billion cubic metres of gas, expected to double by 2015, while Uganda has an estimated 3.5-billion barrels of oil. Kenya’s deposits may be up to 10-billion barrels.
Authorities in the region, in need of new financial sources to cover increasing budget deficits and finance infrastructure, have been putting pressure on exploration companies to start pumping oil and gas. The lure for money and agitation for equity in distribution of oil and gas wealth by local communities have reduced focus on the priority issue of training local oil and gas human resources, industry players said.
The dearth in local experts has paved the way for skilled labour from the Middle East and West Africa where oil and gas extraction is already established.
Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda have sought the assistance of the African Legal Support Facility that helps countries negotiate better contracts and build oil, gas and mining human resources to avoid future conflicts and guarantee future benefits from oil, gas and other mineral wealth.