Berbice now has its own accredited Advanced Diploma in Oil and Gas programme, thanks to the establishment of the Guyana Technical Training College Inc. (GTTCI) at Port Mourant -a major leap in Guyana’s drive to build local capacity for the energy sector.
The 18-month course, which officially began on October 6, welcomed its first batch of 28 trainees under the direction of Professor Emeritus Clement Sankat, GTTCI’s Director. This marks the first time that oil and gas technical training of this level is being conducted entirely in Guyana, using world-class facilities designed to meet international standards.
The programme is supported by the FacTor (Facility Simulator), a training hub established through collaboration among the Government of Guyana, ExxonMobil Guyana, Hess, CNOOC, and SBM Offshore Guyana. The FacTor, launched in 2024, plays a central role in the diploma’s hands-on training approach and stands as a symbol of industry partnership and local content development.
Professor Sankat described the launch as “a momentous day” for Guyana’s technical education, noting that the trainees will receive classroom, lab, and workshop training, along with specialised instruction in Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, and Production disciplines.
Training is being delivered in partnership with LearnCorp International (LCI) and Uniteam. The diploma will be accredited by City & Guilds of the United Kingdom — giving graduates globally recognised certification.
For now, the trainees are based in New Amsterdam, but they are expected to move to the new Port Mourant campus once construction wraps up by the end of 2025. The facility will also feature green spaces and landscaped surroundings as part of its development plan.
The inaugural cohort includes 20 trainees from SBM Offshore Guyana, six from MODEC, and two from Puffer Guyana -the latter marking its first involvement in GTTCI training.
Professor Sankat thanked the government and private sector partners, especially SBM Offshore and ExxonMobil, for helping to turn the institution from “a vision into a tangible national asset.” He also commended President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo for their foresight in supporting the project.
“This is just the beginning,” Sankat said. “Upon successful completion, your trajectory for growth and development in Guyana is limitless.”
