PETALING JAYA: The talent initiatives being implemented under the National Oil and Gas, Services and Equipment Industry Blueprint (OGSE Blueprint) 2021-2030 remain on track towards ensuring the industry retains its skilled manpower, says Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC) operations head Mustafa Akbar Reza (pic).

       The skilled manpower of about 60,000 talents by 2030 is needed to secure the industry’s long-term sustainability, said Mustafa, who leads MPRC’s implementation of the OGSE Blueprint including industry talent development initiatives.

       He said the document contained four talent initiatives: the skilled workers retention programme, OGSE career promotion, inclusion of more engineering or OGSE/energy degrees at Malaysian universities, and expert mentorship from ex-OGSE talents.

       “Now, most OGSE companies are coming back on track (from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic) as well as following the 2014 oil price downturn.

       “We need to make sure that the industry-ready talents, who would be supporting the sector, are readily available when market conditions recover, in tandem with the ongoing energy transition which is seeing oil and gas companies shift away from traditional oil and gas activities to adjacent industries such as renewable energy,” Mustafa said.

       Most skills in the OGSE are transferable and are applicable to any other energy sector should they intend to shift prospects there, he told The Star.

       MPRC, a federal agency under the supervision of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) tasked with advancing the OGSE sector, is participating in the myStarJob Fair on June 25 and June 26 June as title sponsor.

       It is hosting the OGSE Pavilion consisting of 11 OGSE and oil and gas companies comprising public-listed companies as well as small and medium enterprises seeking to fill over 350 positions.

       The OGSE Pavilion will also provide job seekers and hiring companies with a targeted platform to engage on employment opportunities in the OGSE industry.

       Despite public perception that job seeker interest in the oil and gas industry is waning amid the emergence of other adjacent sectors such as renewable energy, Mustafa was optimistic about the prospects of the industry, with talents being key to its continued growth.

       “MPRC’s OGSE Pavilion at the myStarJob Fair represents one of several talent retention initiatives we are spearheading to signal to the public that the OGSE industry is here and thriving; and talent will always be welcomed,” he added.

       According to the OGSE Blueprint, the OGSE industry’s gross domestic product (GDP) contribution to the national economy will grow to around RM40bil to RM50bil by 2030 from the current levels of around RM20bil to RM40bil.

       Launched in April 2021, the Blueprint contains 31 initiatives designed to develop a robust, resilient and globally competitive Malaysian OGSE sector which contributes to the nation’s continued and sustainable socioeconomic growth.

       The OGSE Blueprint also addresses structural challenges that have been weighing on the OGSE sector, such as talent readiness and retention, to aid Malaysian OGSE companies in attaining long-term sustainability. To date, 21 initiatives have been operationalised since the launch of the OGSE Blueprint last year.