Petrofac win Iraq Shell training contract

expat network

Petrofac win Iraq Shell training contract

Petrofac has won a multi-million dollar technical training contract with Shell Iraq, achieving their fourth win with a major operator in the country.

Effective from October 2015, Petrofac Training Services (PTS) has joined Shell in the management and operation of Shell’s Majnoon Training Centre in the Majnoon oil field development in Southern Iraq for two years, with an optional one-year extension.

The centre, opened in 2013, has focused on providing quality technical and non-technical training to the Majnoon workforce. Through its focus on competency development, the training center is making a strong contribution to the growth of Iraqi capabilities.

PTS will also provide human resources, including project managers, HSE, technical, and english language trainers, as well as administrators, with a focus on supporting the competency development of the national workforce.

“This award reflects our commitment to Iraq, where we have been very successful with international oil companies and national oil companies in bringing the best of our operations from around the world and adapting them to meet local needs, facilitating local workforce development,” Karim Osseiran, V.P., PTS, said. “We have worked hard to build our multi-lingual team in Iraq since 2011 and this gives us the capability to rapidly mobilize a multi-national team including Iraqi nationals. We look forward to working with the Shell and SOC team on the Majnoon field.”

“Creating job opportunities through the skills development of Iraq’s workforce is central to the country’s economic growth,” Hans Nijkamp, V.P. and Country Chairman for Shell Iraq, said. “We are proud to work with Petrofac Training Services to continue delivering meaningful technical and educational programs at the Majnoon Training Centre and are confident that this initiative will deliver long-term benefits for Iraq and its people.”

Petrofac was first awarded a contract by Shell to deliver engineering, procurement and construction management at Majnoon in 2011 and now operates in four locations across the country on projects worth a total of more than $1 billion.

Source: www.worldoil.com

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.