The African Refiners' Association (ARA) has unveiled plans to build a new training and development academy that will increase efficiency and operational scope in Africa's oil and gas refining and shipping industry.

All Africa reports that the new academy will be one of four 'coming-of-age' projects to deliver a step-change in operational efficiency across the continent.

Among the other projects to be unveiled by the ARA this month is a new research programme designed to improve vetting procedures in the oil and gas transport sector.

Speaking to ARA members in Cape Town, ARA executive secretary Joel Dervain commented: "We are moving up a gear, and part of the transformation will be the focus on human resources training."

He went on to praise ARA member SAMIR Refinery, which has recently opened a new oil refining training academy in Morocco.

As part of its expansion strategy, the ARA has also this year introduced a new constitution that will provide greater representation to non-refining industry participants such as storage, marketing and distribution companies.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development