Bhubaneswar, May 9: The Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas has identified 100 acres at Haridamunda for a world-class institute of skill development.

The ministry has written to the state government requesting for the land. The institute will offer a number of trades catering to the industry in general as well as oil and gas industry in particular, said Union minister of state petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan at the inaugural ceremony of a smaller skill development institute in Bhubaneswar today.

India's oil and gas sector is facing a major talent shortage and challenge in terms of high attrition rate, ageing workforce and unavailability of skilled workforce. Moreover, over one lakh employees will retire in the next 10 years. The last massive employment in this sector was made in 1970s.

Under this context, the hydrocarbon sector skill council has identified 134 trades and prepared job roles in various sub-sectors. The institute will offer all the 134 trades with duration ranging from six months to two years with residential facilities for students.

The students will be provided with 100 per cent placement - 30 per cent of them abroad, said an Indian Oil official. He said 30 per cent of the students will be placed in oil companies in the Middle East, Singapore and Australia.

In another development, chief minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated a smaller centre for skill development. He said: "The institute will go a long way in offering jobs to the youths of Odisha. Practical training will make the students job ready. The institute will also train them in soft skills, basic computer and English."