Keyano's Oilsands Power & Process Lab Set for Ground-Breaking
Wed, 30/05/2012 - 10:00am | by Anonymous
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For immediate release
May 30, 2012
Keyano’s Oilsands Power & Process Engineering Lab Set for Ground-Breaking
Keyano College and the Keyano College Foundation are proud to announce the ground-breaking ceremony of the Oilsands Power & Process Engineering Lab, which will take place on June 1, 2012.
The Power Lab is the first phase of the Oilsands Trades & Research Centre, which is a major future project. The new Keyano College facility will provide our industry partners with increased access to skilled employees with a solid understanding of oil sands operations - reducing the added costs of outside recruitment.
Expected completion of the Oilsands Power & Process Engineering Lab is slated for late fall next year, with the first intake of students set for January 2014.
The new Lab will be situated beside the Bob Lamb Industry Education Centre adjacent to the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre. The Lab is designed to provide steam time for 4th and 3rd class power engineers and will include a full process operations component. The new Lab will also enable the College to create new, in-demand programs including instrumentation, fluid mechanics, pneumatics, and building operations.
The building was engineered by Worley-Parsons in tandem with architectural designers Dialog. It will be a state-of-the-art facility featuring both a power and H-VAC plant. Training programs housed within will be tailored to meet the specific needs of industry in our region.
John Wilson, Chair of Keyano College Board of Governors, says “we know that our corporate and industry partners are counting on us to help them address defined skills shortages. The Keyano College Power Engineering program is one of the best programs of its kind and attracts many of the top students who are seeking a career in the oil sands,” he said.
Dr. Kevin Nagel, President & CEO, Keyano College, estimated that “in addition to tripling our student training capacity in power engineering and process operations, the Oilsands Power & Process Engineering Lab creates a research portal with a direct link to oil sands producers. It is a facility that will not only enhance our capability to address the needed skill shortage but will also enable industry access for research. It is a facility that will be maximized by Keyano, industry and students in every way 24-7.”
Currently, Keyano College instructs 165 students per year in the power and process operations programs. The construction of the Oilsands Power & Process Engineering Lab will dramatically increase instructional capacity to 468 students per year. The new Lab will also enable capacity for applied research and advanced accreditation opportunities for power engineers, operators and instrumentation technicians.
“We are very supportive of industry’s ‘train here, stay here’ approach,” says Ann Everatt, Vice President, Academic, Keyano College.
“Accordingly, we are accelerating our efforts to build additional training capacity in high demand areas and increasing access to quality post-secondary education that leads directly to employment and long-term careers. This will continue to be our institutional direction, emphasis and focus for some time to come.”
“Keyano College Foundation has secured the partnership support of Syncrude Canada Ltd.; Nexen Inc.; Athabasca Oil Sands Project joint venture owners: Shell Canada, Chevron Canada Limited and Marathon Oil Corporation; Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL); Spartan Controls; Total E&P Canada; and United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 488," says Cindy Amerongen, Vice President, External Relations, Keyano College.
"Senior corporate representatives, government officials, and Keyano staff and students will be involved in this historic ceremony.”
For more information, please contact:
Kiran Malik-Khan
Communications Specialist
Marketing & Communications
Keyano College
780-791-8971