• OPITO and PETRONAS have launched a global decarbonisation training certification designed to close energy-sector skills gaps.
• The programme builds on training already completed by about 102 PETRONAS employees and has been formalised as a credit-rated qualification.
• The certification targets sustainability, emissions accounting, electrification, energy efficiency and CCUS professionals working across the energy transition.

OPITO has launched a new Decarbonisation Training Certification in collaboration with PETRONAS, aiming to strengthen workforce capabilities as energy companies turn net-zero commitments into operational plans.

The certification builds on a programme originally developed by PETRONAS and INSTEP, the company’s technical training institute. Around 102 employees across PETRONAS operations have already completed the training.

OPITO has now formalised the programme into a globally recognised, credit-rated qualification for wider use across the energy sector.

The initiative targets professionals working directly on decarbonisation delivery. These include sustainability and climate specialists, greenhouse gas accounting analysts, electrification engineers and energy efficiency teams. It also applies to technical and project roles related to carbon capture, utilisation and storage.

Closing the energy transition skills gap

Investment in low-carbon technologies is rising across the energy industry. However, companies face a parallel challenge in ensuring workers can evaluate and implement decarbonisation strategies within existing operations.

The new certification is designed to address that capability gap.

Training covers climate science, greenhouse gas accounting, carbon pricing and emissions reduction strategies. It also includes project management and economic evaluation, connecting technical knowledge with practical business decisions.

The programme runs over multiple days and is structured as a credit-rated qualification. OPITO said the format allows participants to develop skills that can transfer across roles, sectors and geographies.

“The industry is not short of decarbonisation ambitions – the challenge is translating that into operational reality. This certification has been designed to close that gap. By formalising an industry-proven programme into a globally recognised qualification, we are creating a benchmark for capability that can scale with the energy transition and move with the workforces across roles, sectors and regions.” Lucie Booth, Product Development Manager at OPITO

Standardising decarbonisation capability

For energy companies, workforce capability is becoming a material execution issue as emissions targets move deeper into operational planning.

Companies increasingly require employees who can work across carbon accounting, project economics and technology deployment. A shared qualification could also reduce inconsistencies between business units and project teams.

That is particularly relevant for multinational operators managing assets under different regulatory frameworks, carbon pricing regimes and reporting requirements.

RELATED ARTICLE: Petronas, Japanese firms to to Develop Malaysia’s Largest CCS Project by end-2028

“Decarbonisation stalls when teams use different tools, terminology, and no shared method. This certificate changes that: one practical pathway and one recognised standard, so you can cut emissions on the job with confidence. It’s also proven with more than 100 PETRONAS and INSTEP trainees, the programme now gains OPITO credit-rating and recognition, making capability credible, portable, and understood across the industry.” Charlotte Wolff-Bye, Vice President & Group Chief Sustainability Officer, PETRONAS

From climate targets to operating decisions

The programme also reflects a broader shift in corporate climate strategy. Decarbonisation is increasingly moving beyond sustainability departments and into engineering, finance, procurement and project delivery.

For executives, this creates a governance challenge. Boards and management teams must ensure climate commitments are supported by the internal expertise needed to implement them safely and economically.

Investors are also paying closer attention to execution risk. Capital allocated to electrification, energy efficiency or CCUS projects can be exposed when companies lack the technical capacity to assess costs, emissions reductions and operational constraints.

“This training was built around real operational needs. Through its formalisation by OPITO, that practical foundation can now be delivered more consistently and at scale. It gives learners the ability to apply decarbonisation principles directly within their roles, supporting safer, more effective implementation across a range of energy environments.” Ts. Azhar Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer, INSTEP

As energy companies expand low-carbon investment, workforce readiness is becoming part of the transition infrastructure itself. Standardised qualifications could help companies build more consistent technical capabilities while giving workers skills that remain relevant across markets.

For an industry managing rising regulatory expectations alongside complex operational assets, the ability to turn emissions targets into credible project decisions will increasingly shape the pace and cost of decarbonisation.