India to train Sudanese pipeline engineers
Sept 10, 2005 (NEW DELHI) — State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IndianOil) has finalised an agreement to train engineers of Sudan’s Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC) in pipeline operation and maintenance.
“IndianOil will send its expert group to train engineers of the Sudanese company in the field of cross-country pipeline operations, different aspects of maintenance and spare parts management,” an official statement said on Saturday.
According to the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) under the agreement, two training programmes would be conducted. The first would be an 18-months stint on pipeline operations and the second a 14-month training on maintenance.
GNPOC has indicated that IndianOil may be awarded the maintenance and inspection services on nomination basis, B.K. Mittal, the company executive director human resources, said in the statement.
During the visit to Sudan for discussions on the training agreement, IndianOil officials found that the marine terminal and the single point mooring system of GNPOC at Port Sudan is identical to IndianOil’s crude oil terminal at Vadinar in Gujarat.
The entry of IndianOil operations in Sudan marks yet another step in growing Indian activities in the African country where state-owned ONGC Videsh holds stakes in three exploration blocks and is scouting for more opportunities.
(IANS/ST)