CNOOC to Train Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers

CNOOC Uganda Limited on Tuesday launched the Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers Training and Licensing Program 2022 which will see 110 drivers trained, licensed and certified to professionally drive heavy goods trucks and trailers (class CH License) or rigid trucks (class CM license) in accordance with the East African community curriculum.

The oil and gas company hired the Uganda Driving Standards Agency (UDSA) to conduct the training so the drivers can meet the skills gaps in the logistics and transportation competencies, especially in the oil and gas sector in Uganda.

The government of Uganda and the Join Venture Partners took the Final Investment Decision (FID) early this year, a significant milestone for the people of Uganda to unlock billions of dollars of investment in Uganda’s oil and gas sector.

This decision paved the way for progress on contract awards as all major engineering, procurement and construction contracts have been awarded and are currently ongoing or under mobilization to start execution.

"Our longer-term strategic pillars are quality and enhancement for sustainable development of the oil and gas resource. Transportation is also among the goods and services to be provided by Ugandan companies, Ugandan citizens and Registered entities as detailed in the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) (National Content) Regulations, 2016," said  Mathew Kyaligonza, the National Content Manager, CNOOC Uganda Limited.

"We have always put safety at the forefront of our business and that is why it is important to train these drivers who shall work with us or our contractors, especially during the development stage. This training will enable the trained drivers to explore and acquire more expertise in Heavy Goods Vehicles Driving and Road Safety which is well in line with the national content promotion guidelines.”

The selection of trainees in this particular cohort was undertaken in partnership with Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom that supported the identification and selection of trainees from 8 districts of Kikuube, Hoima, Masindi, Buliisa, Kiryandongo, Kakumiro, Kibaale and Kagadi together with the implementing service provider Uganda Driving Standards Agency(UDSA).

The partnership with the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom was aimed at Host Community content enhancement for potential beneficiaries from the Bunyoro Sub-Region that hosts the Kingfisher Project.

According to Kyaligonza, the key objectives of this training are to:

1. Train Ugandan HGV drivers and support them to obtain required driving licenses (class CH license for truck and trailer or class CM license for rigid trucks) so that they are eligible for transportation and logistics related jobs in the oil & gas and other sectors.

2. Enhance the knowledge and practice of professional driving among Ugandan HGV drivers by training them according to the East African Community standardized curriculum for drivers of large commercial vehicles and/or international standards for HGV drivers.

In the interest of ensuring that the training maintains national social distancing and the Training Standard Operating Procedures to prevent COVID-9, the program will maintain four trainees per instructor per day and only one trainee in a truck during practical sessions.

This arrangement is to enable the trainee to have ample time with their respective instructors during the training.

The Prime Minister of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Andrew Byakutuga Ateenyi said: “We are grateful for the partnership between CNOOC Uganda Limited and Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom and we look forward to more opportunities of working together. We want our people to be skilled enough so that we can gain from the oil and gas resource.”

Ronald Nkata, the Chief instructor of the trained students said: “This three months program shall provide an interactive forum for us to share, explore and discuss concepts and issues of HGV driving and Road Safety with our trainees."

In addition, this year CNOOC Uganda Limited is sponsoring the training and Certification of 160 Welders in 2G,3G,4G, 5G and 6G Coded welding to AWS international standards, 84 teachers in the Train the Trainer program that included five certified programs for teachers from different Ugandan Vocational Training institutions (VTIs), 150 -200 SMEs in the Enterprise development program, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) training and certification of 60 participants that shall provide the engineering construction industry workforce the skills it needs to meet the challenges of the future enabling development and qualification in a wide range of craft, technical and professional disciplines.

CNOOC says it is committed to National Content promotion to enable Ugandans to tap into the opportunities in the oil and gas sector.