KAMPALA, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- A team of 30 trainers from different vocational institutions in Uganda on Wednesday started their training in the oil and gas sector as the country gears up for commercial production.

Sponsored by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), one of the companies exploring oil in the western part of the country, the program will nurture trainers who will further skill the youths in the east Africa country.

John Muyingo, minister of state for higher education, in a speech read for him, said skilling the youths in the oil and gas sector is critical if the country is to benefit from the lucrative sector. The official revealed that the trainers will also travel to China where they will gain more skills.

"This will create a critical mass which will have a multiplier effect in the country," Muyingo said.

Zhao Shunqiang, president of CNOOC Uganda Limited said a high quality human resource is crucial in developing Uganda's oil and gas industry. He said CNOOC's technical specialists will visit technical institutions to deliver real in-field expertise and know-how related to the industry.

Irene Muloni, minister of energy and mineral development in a statement read for her, said standards are important in the oil and gas sector. "The high standards demanded by the sector requires a workforce that is internationally certified. Standards are key for us to compete globally," Muloni said.

Government figures show that Uganda has so far discovered 6.5 billion barrels of oil, of which about 1.5 billion barrels are commercially viable. The country anticipates to start commercial production by 2021, when the crude oil pipeline and the refinery will be in place.