MINISTERIAL TASK TEAM TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY ESTABLISHED

MINISTERIAL TASK TEAM TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY ESTABLISHED

Ministerial task team to address challenges in the oil and gas industry especially for the oil Rigs was established in Saldanha Bay today. The task team was established during the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies’ visit to the Transnet National Port Authority, Port of Saldanha in the Western Cape today.

The task team will amongst others, consist of the community, business fraternity, labour and government.

Minister Davies, who was accompanied by representatives of the South African Bureau of Standards, National Metrology Institute of South Africa, South African National Accreditation System and National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications met with the Saldanha Bay business community and the management of the oil Rig in the Port of Saldanha.

“Saldanha Bay has a potential of becoming an employment hub if we do things the right way,” said Minister Davies.

According to Minister Davies, paying attention to getting local businesses accredited to be able to service the oil Rigs and to become proper players of the oil Rigs is instrumental to growing the economy and creating employment.

“We need to give the local companies a fair opportunity as all other companies to service the oil Rigs by assisting them to meet the standards required,” added Minister Davies.

These efforts, according to Minister Davies will go a long way in creating employment.

Minister Davies noted that 28 international investors have showed interest in investing in Saldanha Bay IDZ and South Africa remains a preferred choice of invest opportunities.

The task team that has been set up, according to Minister Davies will have to come up with a full audit in four weeks on how to unlock the bottlenecks that impact negatively on the implementation of the ability to service the oil rigs.

“These bottlenecks and challenges include amongst others limited companies providing Oil Rig maintenance and repair,inadequate skills development, and supply chain for the locals remain a fundamental aspect of making sure that the community benefit from the Oil Rig,” added Minister Davies.

He stated that government cannot allow only high-end companies to benefit from servicing the oils rigs.

Today’s visit was part of “Taking the dti to the Factories” campaign which is an initiative of the dti that aims to determine the outcomes and impact of some of the measures government has put in place with regards to the promotion of economic growth in South Africa and new opportunities that can be explored.