A delegation of Scottish companies is travelling to Burma this week in an effort to tap into opportunities in the country’s oil and gas sector.
The delegation includes mobile generator-hire supplier Aggreko and oil and gas firms including Wood Group, Asco and Bibby Offshore.
Burma now stands at ‘exciting phase’ of its own oil and gas development – much like Aberdeen did in the 1970s – with huge natural resources to capitalise on, according to Scottish Enterprise which is co-ordinating the mission.
The delegation will meet Burma’s minister for energy and electricity as well as local and international oil and gas companies already active in the country to “explore key opportunities in the local supply chain”.
The Burmese government is also keen to develop its own oil and gas industry and wants to capitalise on foreign investment and technology to build local capacity and expertise. A Scottish Enterprise spokesman said:
“Scotland and Burma (which now calls itself Myanmar) have strong historic connections going right back to the 19th century when the Scottish-owned Burmah Oil Company became the first company to drill for oil in the country in 1886.
“Myanmar now stands at exciting phase of its own oil and gas development – much like Aberdeen did in the 1970s – with huge natural resources to capitalise on.
“But to grow its local industry, it will need access to technology, skills and expertise across the whole supply chain from seismic surveying and engineering design right through to project management, health and safety and training and education.
“These are all core strengths of Scotland’s oil and gas industry built up through 50 years of experience of working in the North Sea.
“We have a real opportunity now to show how Scotland can help support Myanmar to build the capacity it needs while at the same time providing much needed international opportunities for our own industry.”
The delegation will also visit Vietnam along with some of the Scottish companies to identify potential opportunities in what is seen as a more established oil and gas market which is still relatively untapped by Scottish companies.
Meanwhile, Paul Wheelhouse, Scottish Energy Minister, and his political boss, Keith Brown, Scottish Trade and Industry Secretary, are visiting Aberdeen’s oil and gas sector this week following their recent appointments in the Scot-Government.
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