The Hindu Business Line : All oil, gas installations told to carry out safety self-audit

The Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Murli Deora, with (from left) the ONGC, CMD, Mr R.S. Sharma; the Shell India Chairman, Mr Vikram Mehta; and the IOC Chairman, Mr Sarthak Behuria; at a meeting in the Capital on Tuesday.

Our Bureau

New Delhi, Nov. 3 The Government has ordered all oil and gas installations in the country to carry out a self audit conforming to their statutory norms as well as adhere to prescribed Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) standards by December 31.

A decision to this effect was taken on Tuesday at a meeting convened by the Petroleum Minister, Mr Murli Deora, with top experts from the public, private and multinational firms to review safety measures at oil installations.

The meeting was convened in the wake of the massive fire at the Indian Oil Corporation’s fuel depot in Jaipur. A technical directorate under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the OISD formulates and coordinates the implementation of a series of self regulatory measures aimed at enhancing the safety in the oil and gas industry in the country.

Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, the Petroleum Secretary, Mr R. S. Pandey, said: “Oil companies will submit their reports to the OISD which in turn will submit a consolidated report to the Ministry.”

The audit would not be restricted to public sector installations, but will extend to private installations as well, he said. It was also decided that safety audits will be done on a quarterly basis and “all major as well as minor incidents in any such installations/set ups in the country including that of private companies will be reported to OISD,” the Petroleum Secretary said.

“The decision taken in the September meeting of the Safety Council regarding empowering the OISD with statutory status would be expedited,” he said. The OISD will also be further strengthened and given additional manpower. The Secretary said that all oil and gas companies must have standard operating procedures for operations and maintenance practices for all countrywide installations/set-ups under due technical supervision and attention.

“All companies will submit reports on having standard operating procedures and their due implementation to OISD by December 31,” he said.

Meanwhile, a seven-member committee chaired by Mr M. B. Lal, former Chairman and Managing Director, HPCL, set up to inquire into IOC fire accident will submit its report in 60 days. The Minister also said that it has been decided that IOC will pay Rs 50 crore as an immediate relief to various affected units through RIICO.