The Tun Ahmadshah Oil and Gas Academy is celebrating the graduation of its inaugural class of 49 students, who are now equipped to work in Sabah's fledgling oil and gas industry.

According to Malaysia's Daily Express, the students received full sponsorship as part of a scholarship programme run by MISC and Yayasan Sabah.

After receiving their offshore training certificates on Wednesday (July 15th), all 49 students are set to begin their new career on the deep-sea Gumunsut platform.

Muhammad Irzan Abd Malek, a 23-year-old student from the state capital, told the paper: "After completing (the studies) I am quite relieved and proud because we are the first Sabahans to complete the course to work in the oil and gas industry."

Malaysia's national oil and gas firm Petronas in 2006 set a production target of 150,000 barrels for the Gumunsut platform, with development being undertaken in partnership with Royal Dutch Shell and ConocoPhillips.

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