The President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall officially launched the Institut National du Pétrole et du Gaz (INPG) on Tuesday.
The goal of the institute is to shape and train future leaders in the petroleum industry, while creating a technical workforce that can compete on a global scale.
It is one of state-owned Comité d’orientation Stratégique du pétrole et du gaz (COS-PETROGAZ’s) local content policy flagship initiatives and a major aspect of government’s push to create a transparent and sustainable petroleum economy.
“INPG will develop the potential of Senegal’s youth, which has been left out of scientific matters for too long. They will tackle the most challenging issues of the petroleum industry. I requested COS-PETROGAZ to travel the world and understand international best practices while highlighting the amazing local skills Senegal already has,” President Sall said at the launch.
The INPG selected 22 students out of 2,200 applications received. All selected students hold a master’s degree in technical fields, such as electro mechanics, geology and civil engineering.
Following Senegal’s adhesion to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in 2013 and the launch of COS-PETROGAZ, INPG comes as a reinforcement of local institutional framework.
The President further noted that his vision was to set up “a strict, inclusive and sustainable natural resources management system.”
Permanent Secretary of COS-PETROGAZ Ousmane N’Diaye stated that the INPG would “influence education and human resource training and, as well as Senegal’s ambition to become a regional energy hub in West-Africa.”
First oil and gas productions are expected to take place in 2021 and 2022.
