Haiveta eyeing institute to train locals for LNG industry

Youth & Careers

Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta, pictured, plans to build a technical institute to train locals for the LNG industry.
Haiveta said that discussions were going on for the establishment of petroleum hub facilities at various locations in Kikori, including Orokolo Bay.
He said the facilities would include a mini LNG plant and an oil refinery and he wanted the people of Gulf to be given first priority in employment.
“With regards to our employment opportunities in our resource sector, we must have the necessary education and skills to be employed,” Haiveta said.
He said he wanted the people of Gulf to be prepared to be apart of the project.
“I want the children of Gulf to be a part of this project. Having said this, it brings us to the question of whether we are ready,” he said.
“Therefore, we will establish a specific technical instituteto train locals for the LNG industry.”
Haiveta said that apart from the LNG sector, he was also looking at training people in the province to go out and join the skilled workforce in the country by providing an educational institute in the province.
“Therefore, we will build the Gulf Institute of Technology using available land and existing resources at Malalaua early next year,” he said.
He also assured the people of Gulf that he was working on ensuring that landowners from Caution Bay and the pipeline route, all the way to the source, would be paid their royalties and benefits from the LNG project.
Haiveta said that the Department of Petroleum and Energy had already started the landowner identification and work was in already progress to be completed for all dues to be paid in the first quarter of this year.