A group of delegates from Thailand have visited the University of Aberdeen as part of a joint project that aims to strengthen decommissioning expertise in the country.
The nine delegates, including representatives from the Thai Government, Chulalongkorn University, and Unithai Shipyard & Engineering Ltd - spent several days in Aberdeen as they learned about the University’s expertise in the sector.
As well as meeting with academics and representatives of the regulator, OPRED, in Aberdeen, the delegation also met with colleagues from the Oil and Gas Technology Centre and visited John Lawrie Group, experts in metal recycling and decommissioning. They ended their working visit on Thursday (September 27), with a trip to Shetland to Peterson’s decommissioning yard, where the Buchan Alpha is being dismantled.
The knowledge-sharing partnership will help strengthen two of Chulalongkorn University’s research institutes, while allowing the University of Aberdeen to gain knowledge of specific decommissioning issues in the South Asia region and increase its visibility.
Professor Richard Neilson, from the University’s School of Engineering, said: “As the host of the new National Decommissioning Centre, and the first and only University in the world to offer a Masters degree in the subject, Aberdeen is well placed to provide support to partners keen to develop their expertise in the area.
“Thailand is an emerging market for offshore decommissioning, which the Thai Department of Mineral Resources has estimated could be worth up to $9 billion to the Thai economy in the next 20 years.
“There is an increasing demand for skills and expertise to help develop the sector, so the overall aim of this project is to develop a research roadmap that reflects industry needs in the area of waste management from offshore decommissioning.
“This project will contribute significantly to economic development and welfare of the country, and will be used as springboard for long-term collaboration and cutting-edge research innovation.”