Investment in oil and gas training and specialist technology are the top priorities for the Malaysian energy industry, a senior minister has claimed.

Bernama reports that the assistant minister of infrastructure, development and communication for the Sarawak region Datuk Lee Kim Shin has urged the oil and gas industry and public sector organisations to invest in oil and gas training programmes that will enable younger generations to find work in the industry.

Failing to do so, Lee claimed, could lead to an acute skills shortage in the years to come.

His comments came ahead of the upcoming Getenergy Exploration and Production conference being held in the newly refurbished International Campus of the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia today (March 23rd) and tomorrow.

Conference training director Khaled Reda Abdelmola explained: "It is essential for us to find way to capture the knowledge and experience of the older generation and transmit it to the younger talent."

Getenergy Exploration and Production 2010