A college of further education in Scotland has opened new training facilities for the oil and gas industry in a bid to help the sector meet the skills demand.

The Oil and Gas Academy Scotland (OGAS) in Forth Valley College includes a chemical distillation plant, virtual control room, mini rig lab, process training plant and mechanical workshop worth a total £1.2 million.

OGAS is a collaboration between six training providers for the oil and gas sector and was funded by the Scottish Funding Council and the Energy Skills Scotland (ESS) initiative which is led by the Skills Development Scotland.

The partnership will allow organisations to share their expertise and resources to provide a range of training and professional development opportunities for national and international employers in the oil and gas industry.

Scotland’s Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: “This facility demonstrates our investment in the sector, in the area and most importantly in our young people.

“If our young people are to benefit from the tremendous opportunities that this sector presents, both now and in the future, it is essential that we equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Forth Valley’s close relationship with local employers in the energy sector makes it ideally placed to be at the forefront of the skills pipeline for the energy sector in Scotland.”