RBR : Strategic Alliance with Site Group International

RBR Group Limited (RBR) is pleased to announce the commencement of a Strategic Alliance with Site Group International (Site, ASX: SIT) to pursue the development and delivery of technical training services to Mozambique's emerging resources sector. The focus of the Alliance will be on offering high end Operations and Maintenance (O&M) skills to develop a competent supply of skilled local labour, which is currently almost non-existent, for the target growth industries in Mozambique.

Mozambique has world class deposits of several resources, including hydrocarbons (primarily gas, graphite and coal), gemstones, mineral sands, lithium and tantalum. While activity is currently underway across all of these resources opportunities, it is the development of the world's largest graphite deposits in northern Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province, as well as the country's vast gas reserves, that have attracted interest from investors around the world.

Mozambique's resources projects are heavily concentrated in the less developed northern half of the country which is particularly short of a suitably skilled workforce. This, together with the number and scale of projects in various stages of development and the legal requirement for local employment, is creating a significant demand for a wide range of skills. RBR has already commenced discussions with the developers of several resource projects to provide a fully integrated training solution which includes pre-employment services, general work readiness skills and various streams of technician training.

RBR has a wholly owned Mozambican training subsidiary, Futuro Skills Mozambique Lda (Futuro Skills). Futuro Skills have an existing training facility in Maputo with plans to develop an additional facility in Pemba in Cabo Delgado province, located in the heart of Mozambique's emerging resources industry.

Site Group International is a leading provider of workforce nationalisation and competency development services for developing nations, with operations throughout Australia and developing economies including PNG, Philippines, Malaysia and Myanmar. Site specialise in the development of competency development frameworks and immersive training environments to create project-ready labour.

Site offers a unique platform to provide O&M training through the simulation of a live process plant environment, referred to as a Safe Live Process Plant (SLPP). Site already operates a SLPP facility in Myanmar, with a second facility under construction for commissioning in Papua New Guinea to support development of a skilled Papuan Oil & Gas Operations and Maintenance workforce.

The Alliance will commence a feasibility study in consultation with potential stakeholders for the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning of a SLPP in Mozambique.

The SLPP incorporates process systems, a centralised control room, mechanical, piping, emergency protection and electrical systems. This enables candidates to experience training and assessment activities under "real" conditions, but in a safe and controlled environment.

The intention of the Alliance is for Futuro Skills to provide local infrastructure and support for the joint delivery of Site's specialist skills and capability and, ultimately, a SLPP facility.