(Ecofin Agency) - A delegation from Scotland is expected to visit East Africa to help the region improve skill shortfalls in the oil and gas industry, and also in the mining and construction sector. The delegation is being led by Scottish Development International on a mission aimed at increase the skills base in East Africa.

East Africa has been reported to have the world’s biggest gas fields but in order to regain the hydrocarbons, workers needs to be trained. According to Energy Voice, estimates have shown that over 100,000 native workers needs training and the law in the region states that, if international companies desire to establish operations in East Africa, the percentage of the workers must be from the general population.

Ten oil and gas training providers from Scotland are to visit Tanzania and Mozambique this week to continue the works carried out in 2014 and 2015 which resulted in several partnerships. These groups are to meet representatives from the energy and education ministries, local colleges, the Skills for Oil and Gas in Africa initiative, as well as the British Council.

“Scotland is a world-leading training hub for the oil and gas sector and is well placed to support East Africa’s skills shortages. Companies are already seeing success in this key market and this third mission aims to facilitate, in this current climate, even more opportunities for our supply chain, particularly for those companies visiting for the first time,” David Rennie, international sector head for oil and gas at Scottish Enterprise, said.

Anita Fatunji