DPR Berates Unpleasant Experience In Oil And Gas Industry, Proffers Solutions

The Director, Department of Petroleum and Resources( DPR) Engr. Sarki Auwalu has expressed worry over unpleasant incidents around Oil and Gas Sector.

Speaking on Thursday at this year 2020 Maiden Annual General meeting of DPR and Stakeholders in Osogbo with the Theme : Safety practices in the Oil and Gas Industry:our civic obligations, he posited that the sector had witnessed several lost of lives, damage to properties and environmental pollution.

He attributed some of these incidents from fallen tankers, petrol station fires, gas explosion and vandalism.

Auwalu, who was represented by Mrs. Osode, the Head of Servicom of the agency, harped on safety to engender growth in the sector as well as safeguard lives and property.

According to him, in the sector,the issues of safety in the Oil and gas industry can not be over emphasized considering the significance, of the industry to the nation economy.

He decried recent unpleasant incidents in the industry which resulted in avoidabel loss of lives and wanton destruction of property, as well as environmental pollution.

He noted that the department has stepped up efforts, to reverse this ugly trend, while the industry equally made frantic efforts to ensure that all operations are conducted without jeopardizing safety of personnel and endangering the community.

Auwalu however reiterated the commitment of the agency to reverse the ugly trend, by launching the Minimum Industry Safety Training for Downstream Operations(MISTIDO)

Also speaking at the ceremony ,the zonal operations controller DPR, Lagos, Engr, Ayorinde Cardozo in his keynote address remarked that some of the accounts in the industry are traceable to human errors such as poor fleet maintenance culture, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Others he said are the disregards for road safety regulations, non-adherence to laid down standard operating procedures (SOP).

He however submitted that some operations of the outlets which are contrary to operational guidelines and standards have compromised safety and led to avoidable accidents, environmental pollution and degradation.

He therefore urged that safety should be a collective responsibility which is expected from all stakeholders in the industry.

Also in his remarks at the occasion the Osun state operation controller, DPR, Osogbo field office Engr, Olusegun Daboh explained that the essence of establishing an office in the state was to ease business environment for operations.

Dabor further emphasised the need for operators in the industry to be conscious of basic safety tips and necessary precautionary measures.

“The oil and gas business do not only generate financial value but also cause harzards if not properly handled. To this end, DPR has successfully launched MISTIDO . This programme is targeted at the process and equipment, as well as workers in the downstream sector, which include petroleum tanker drivers, motor boys and attendants in the petroleum sector”.

He noted that the department will always interact with stakeholders to discuss and proffer solutions to the major operational challenges that is facing Oil and Gas sectors in Osun and its environs.

Daboh noted that the birth of this year event in the state will bring about more effectiveness and new approach in regulating Oil and gas business in Osun State.

He therefore retorted that the DPR Osogbo field office was established to ease businesses environment for operations in the state and to improve their activities as they would no longer need to go to Ibadan for issues that relate to oil and gas activities.

The operation controller also noted that while carrying out surveillance on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG ) and petrol station retail outlets in the state, many petrol stations were shut down due to some infractions committed by the marketers.

He then warned that Oil and Gas business do not only generate financial value but also cause hazards if not properly handled ,but said the DPR had launched MISTIDO (Minimum Safety Training for Downstream Operations) targeted at the people, such as petroleum tankers drivers, motor boys and attendants in the petrol stations as to curtail the challenges.

Presenting his paper the topic:” Safety Practices in the Production , Transportation and Handling of LPG-General Overview and the way forward”, an expert in oil and gas, Dr. Oyet Gogomery declared that considering the inflammable nature of petroleum products, tanker drivers must exercise utmost caution, saying the products are potential bomb.

Gogomery noted that the situation where tanker drivers and other drivers of articulated vehicles complete on the road for space portends serious danger for road users and the environment at large .