A selected team of engineers are undergoing an intensive oil training course to prepare them to work at the Dung Quat refinery in Vietnam.

Out of a pool of 1,046 workers, 68 have been accepted on to the course, which focuses on providing the training and development necessary to allow them to manipulate refinery operations.

According to the Vietnam News Agency, key positions at the plant will be filled by top-performing graduates of the course.

"[The] Vietnamese engineers have acquired the skills to deal with situations very quickly. I believe they will effectively operate the refinery in the future," said Manuel Custodio, an oil training specialist involved in the course.

Hydrocarbons Technology reports that the Dung Quat refinery was first approved by the ministry of planning and investment in January 1998.

Although it has suffered a series of setbacks including the withdrawal of foreign investors, the facility is expected to come online in February 2009.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development