Tema, July 24, GNA - The Transport Officer at Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), has underscored the need for Ghanaians to acquire professional education in health, safety and the environment issues, to boost the operations of the oil and gas industry.

Mr David Azupio said the logistics network in the oil and gas sector is complex and involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling and packaging.

Mr Azupio made the call at a day's Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme organised by the Tema branch of the Chartered Institute of Logistic and Transport (CILT) for members in Tema at the weekend.

It was on the theme: "Managing the Down Stream of the Oil and Gas Industry - Implications for Logistics and Transport."

It was aimed at equipping the participants with specialised knowledge on the operations processes of the fledgling industry.

He said the industry is divided into three main sectors, namely Upstream, Mid-stream and Down-Stream, and explained that the down-stream sector is responsible for final processing, distribution and marketing.

Mr Azupio urged operators of depots to ensure that products are safely stored and handled in order not to damage or pollute the water table.

Mr Kumi Adjei-Sam, Tema branch Chairman of CILT commended the workshop participants for taking the CPD programmes seriously, and said the institute is bent on intensifying its membership drive to enable it achieve its set goals.

Mr Albert Ofori, Vice President of Maritime and Chairman for the occasion said as a new field in the country the operations and processes of the oil and gas industry called for specialised knowledge and training.

Mr Ofori said the CPD programme was a step in the right direction, and expressed optimism that the participants would make judicious use of the acquired skills to enable them drive the fullest investment and business opportunities in the oil and gas (petroleum industry).