With the recent discovery of oil and gas off its coasts, Senegal attempts to draw up the bluprint for shaping a good management of this sector, which is at the origin of many conflicts in the world.
The black gold and gas already found, new plans to extract, process and commercialize them are needed. The country of “téranga” chose “traditional and historical partners”, symbolized by the French giant of the oil industry, Total. In fact, many people believe the company will be, along with others, the future pilot of the “Senegalese oil adventure”.
The first gas and oil barrels productions are planned for 2021 (2023 at the latest). Senegal is already working make this activity one of the centerpieces of its economy. An ad hoc department and partnerships have been activated, as well as a committee (COS-PETROGAZ), as an evidence of the country’s strong expectations to profit from these new resources and increase its political and economic influence in the West African area.
The sector should generate thousands of jobs in the future. But there is a skill gap. The country is trying to solve the problem, for example by investing up to 20 billion FCFA to build the National Oil and Gas Institute, starting in October 2017. The oil and gas-related disciplines will also be incorporated in the Higher Education curriculum. But these good initiatives do not guarantee operational ability or in due time, of the beneficiaries of the training.
In short, Senegal will need foreign skills to take its first steps in the oil industry. The country also relies on the African diaspora for its expertise in the field. In fact, many African professionals have strong work experience in different oil companies worldwide and can bring their knowledge in the management of the sector.
Thus, oil and gas will obviously be one of the main job providers in Senegal. These resources will also inspire other sectors to think about ways to grow further alongside the new industry. Recruitment will play a very important role. The focus will be on “talent attraction” to bring competences and to ensure the succession by directing the young graduates into this sector.
Senegal will therefore need to recruit profiles who can operate in the different sections of the oil industry: Administration / management, marketing, control and research testing, manufacturing, IT, logistics, QHSSE, technical.
In short, for its oil and gas production needs, Senegal will be looking for many profiles such as:
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- Site Managers
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- Coordinators of studies
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- Cost controllers, planners
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- Project engineers
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- geologists
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- geophysicists
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- Drilling engineers
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- Oil Engineers
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- Maintenance Engineers
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- Oil and gas engineers
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- Process Engineers
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- Tank installers
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- Service Agents
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- Outdoor operators
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- Trading Operators
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- Commissioning managers (start-up)
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- Fuel farm manager
- Purchasing managers