Shortage of skills and equipment limits growth

THE SKILLS shortage which has plagued so many high tech industries is no less of a challenge in the West African oil, gas and – to a lesser extent – mining sectors, according to Safmarine's Albert Pegg. Demand has outstripped supply for skilled, qualified personnel – and while there is significant investment in training programmes, the skills shortage is likely continue for some time. “And the supply and demand issue is not limited to human assets,” says Pegg. “Insufficient industry investment in building new MPV vessels could result in a limited global MPV fleet over the next five years. And this could have significant cost and capacity consequences for the industry since MPV capacity is likely to be required to transport cargo for the building of LNG terminals as a result of increased global demand for cleaner, more environmentally-friendly fuels.”