02 June 2008
In a spirited and highly enjoyable event, Yemen LNG held the graduation ceremony of the 1st intake of technical trainees at the Sana’a Movenpick Hotel on Saturday, 31 May 2008. At the event, Yemen LNG celebrated the graduation of 85 Technicians and 11 Technical and Administrative Assistants.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Joel Fort, General Manager of Yemen LNG, congratulated the graduates as well as all those in the Training Centre and in Yemen LNG who had contributed to their success, for this remarkable achievement in support of the Yemenisation of the company’s workforce. “Yemen LNG is very pleased that you have successfully completed your theoretical and technical training programme and are now ready to join the technical team of Yemen LNG in Balhaf as Operations Technicians,” he stated. Confirming Yemen LNG’s commitment to the diversity of its workforce, Mr. Fort highlighted that “our trainees, who have been selected based on their performance in a rigorous testing process, represent all 21 governorates of Yemen”.

In his reply, H.E. Mr. Amir Al-Aidarous, Minister of Oil and Minerals, stressed that “equal attention should be given to increasing sources of income for Yemen and for building the capacities of young Yemenis”. "Yemen counts on you, He added, addressing the graduates, to acquire skills in this new area for the country and with high motivation and hard work to reach international levels of performance, it will be possible to achieve true Yemenisation."

H.E. Governor of Shabwah, Dr. Ali Hasan Al-Ahmadi, praised the Company’s sustainable development projects implemented in the areas where the Company operates. “The Company has taken the right direction in developing the areas where it operates and in building the skills of the locals of Shabwah and Marib where the Company operates,” he added.

Two graduates also spoke on behalf of their fellow former trainees. They expressed their gratitude to Yemen LNG as well as those entities which hosted them for on job training namely, SAFER, Aden Refinery, Jennah Hunt and the PT Badak and SEGAS LNG plants. They also reiterated their determination to “maintain the same level of enthusiasm and spirit of self-development in the years to come.”

After the opening remarks, guests enjoyed a musical performance by a Yemeni folk music band. Then, Mr. Fort, accompanied by H.E. Minister of Oil and Minerals, H.E. Governor of Shabwah, and Human Resources Manager, Mr. Phil Campbell, handed out the graduation certificates and congratulated the graduates one by one.

The graduation of the first intake of technicians and their move to Balhaf to fill staff positions is a clear demonstration of Yemen LNG’s commitment to Yemenisation. Currently, 67% of all positions in the core organisation are filled by Yemeni staff or trainees.

The ceremony was attended by a number of representatives from the diplomatic community in Yemen, representatives from Shabwah and Marib Governorates, representatives from the Ministry of Oil and Minerals and the Ministry of Vocational Education and Technical Training.