DPR INTRODUCES NEW PROGRAMME FOR DOWNSTREAM OPERATIONS
By: Emmanuel Adefeso Esq.
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has introduced a compulsory programme referred to as the Minimum Industry Safety Training for Downstream operations (MISTDO). It said the programme was initiated to safeguard operations in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Mr Paul Osu, Head, Public Affairs, DPR, made this known in a statement issued, on Sunday, amidst protest by marketers.
Osu said the MISTDO programme covers Depots, Petrol Stations, Product Pipelines, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plants and Petroleum Trucks. According to him, the programme was launched following extensive collaborations with relevant stakeholders including the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). Osu said it was a direct response to the upsurge in downstream sector accidents and operational mishaps leading to high casualty and fatality rates averaging 54 fatalities yearly within a five year period. He said: “The objectives of MISTDO amongst others include to enforce and standardize basic training for downstream workers and to provide industry reference for prospective trainees.
The recent spate of oil downstream incident in the country, has caused huge economic loss. The need to avert future occurrences may have necessitated the introduction of training for downstream operators. Also, this initiative is coming contemporaneously with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, is expected to compliment the innovations introduced by the new legislation as well as address concerns of occupational safety and health. Indeed, the Minimum Industry Safety Training for Downstream operations (MISTDO) is a commendable initiative capable of improving performance and efficiency in the downstream sub-sector. It is hoped that the DPR will continue to provide robust oversight for the safety of operations in the Nigerian oil and gas industry in line with global best practices to ensure business sustainability.
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