A group of politicians, educators and offshore industry bosses took part in a decommissioning fact-finding mission last week.
Representatives from the Thai Government, Chulalongkorn University, and Unithai Shipyard & Engineering spent several days in Aberdeen as they learned about the university’s expertise in the sector.
The delegation met academics and representatives of the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) in Aberdeen, as well as bosses from the Oil and Gas Technology Centre.
They also visited metal recycling firm John Lawrie Group.
According to Aberdeen University, the delegation ended their working visit on Thursday with a trip to Shetland to Peterson’s decommissioning yard where the Buchan Alpha is being dismantled.
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.”
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