Five Angolan drilling engineers have received their qualification certificates after six months further education arranged by Hydro. "This ceremony confirms the good relationship that exists between Norway and Angola," says Angolan councillor Mário de Azevedo Constantino.
The certificates were recently presented by the mayor of Nøtterøy at a ceremony at Integrated Technical Consultants (ITC), who have developed and run the course.
The six month further education program is part of Hydro's "Management and Technology Transfer Program", which aims to provide young Angolans with the expertise to run their country's oil and gas industry.
Svein Fagereng, leader of ITC, explains that the six month course has a practical, industrial basis, and also includes use of computer systems.
Fagereng is impressed with the standards in the group. One student achieved the highest possible total points. The Angolans took a three month English course in York, England, before coming to Norway.
In his speech, councillor Mario de Azevedo Constantino at Angola's embassy in Stockholm said that the presentation of the certificates and the ceremony at Nøtterøy confirmed the good relationship between Norway and Angola. He also gave the joint venture agreement between Hydro and the Angolan state oil company Sonangol a positive mention.
"We are interested in long-term collaboration with Norway, said Constantino. "And," he added, "the most important factor in the further development of the country is that there are now prospects of peace."