TRAINEESHIP PROGRAM BOOSTING WORKFORCE
TRAINEESHIP PROGRAM BOOSTING WORKFORCE
The apprentice and trainees training under PNG Power Ltd’s (PPL) recently revived Apprenticeship and Traineeship programs are having a positive impact in the power stations and distribution systems thus boosting morale for permanent staff members in maintaining a reliable power supply for customers throughout all PPL centres.
In February 2016, a total of 50 apprentice and 50 trainees were enrolled in these two (2) programs to undergo training in the various trades of electrical fitter, diesel mechanic, machine fitter machinist, lines, power station operation, meter technician and electrical inspector.
Apart from the apprenticeship and traineeship programs, PPL also enrolled 20 university graduates under its Graduate Development Program (GDP) and seven (7) trainees for Inspector training.
The successful young candidates for the apprenticeship and traineeship programs came from vocational and technical colleges in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and are now getting advanced hands-on training from PPL staff members out in the field.
At the Ulagunan power station at Kokopo, East New Britain Province, three (3) trainees are undergoing their training in operating and maintaining the diesel-run power station.
According to PPL’s Ulagunan Power Station Manager Mr Charles Sale, these trainees have added to the desired number required to run the power station and are becoming skillful and proactive in their daily maintenance routines.
“The trainees here at Ulagunan power station are learning the system from generation to retailing. They are able to restore a machine following the procedure after a break-down, using the different types of service maintenance,” Charles said.
He added that the trainees are working with the operations team and involved in the whole power station system from mechanical to electronics and switching.
These three (3) trainees, namely Robin Labit from Port Moresby Technical College, Jack Luana and Benjamin Gorop from Hagen Technical College said the working environment was tough for them but the staff members were helpful and they were learning more than expected from the experienced power station operators.
Robin added that the traineeship program was challenging and this was developing him to be a better power station operator.
“I have an electrical background and was sent here for training in diesel power generation. I am learning about the generation and doing maintenance on generators at the same time. I’m so thankful to learn about these two different trades combined. After the 2 years of my training, I am willing to give back to PPL for bringing me this far,” Robin said.
Jack and Benjamin, who came from a mechanical background, said they were learning about electricity and electronics and it was a new experience for them.
“It is challenging but we are sharing our experiences and knowledge and working as a team to learn the electronics of the control room in the power station, and also from generation, transmission, distribution to retailing. I am amazed with this training I’m receiving and I see myself as a power station operator in the next 3 years” Jack said.
“There is more to learn here despite the minor challenges,” Benjamin said.
“One main challenge for us is the loud noise from the generators and we cannot hear from each other when we are inside the power station. Interestingly, the operators here have unique sign languages. We are learning the common sign language and gestures from them and we are slowly getting the grasp,” Ben explained.
Most times the trio read lips and try to understand their trainers so that they don’t make an error or “press a wrong button”.
“We will gradually learn and overcome this challenge. I see this training program as the best way to develop us young men to join PPL’s workforce and take the company forward,” Ben said.
PPL is in a drive to train and maintain a robust workforce using the apprenticeship, traineeship and GDP programs. This young workforce will take the company forward and ensure there is no skill gap when the aging workforce exit the company.
The apprenticeship (4 years) and traineeship (2 years) programs were revived in 2015. The first intake in October 2015 are in the field undergoing training while PPL is in the process of getting the second batch of apprentice and trainees to begin training in 2017.
For this second batch, a total of 991 young men and women from around the country did their entry test in October 2016. The ones who pass this entry test will go through an interview process, medical examination and enter the apprenticeship and traineeship programs in 2017 at the PPL Training College in Port Moresby and its operational centres.
Trades or courses taught at the PPL Training College under these programs include electrical fitting, diesel mechanic, machine fitter machinist, lines, power station operation, and PPL ensures that quality hands-on training is given to the trainees.
