Nova Scotia to train Venezuelan oil workers

Nova Scotia has signed an agreement with Venezuela’s national oil company to provide training programs for its workers. Under the agreement, employees of Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. could study at Nova Scotia Community College, Cape Breton University, Dalhousie University and Saint Mary’s University.These institutions offer specialized energy training, including professional skills development and post-graduate work. Nova Scotia has already provided training to workers from Angola, Russia and Italy.

Venezuela hopes to be producing 5.8 million barrels of crude oil per day by 2012. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers says Canada is expected to produce 4.6 million barrels per day by 2015.

"The oil and gas industry knows they can find world-class instruction and training here," Energy Minister Richard Hurlburt said in a statement.

-with a report by CP