DPR says safety measures designed to safeguard downstream operations
By Abisola THOMPSON
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says the Minimum Industry Safety Training for Downstream operations (MISTDO) is introduced to safeguard operations in Nigeria’s oil and gas downstream sector.
Mr Paul Osu, Head, Public Affairs, DPR, made this known in a statement on Sunday, obtained by TBi Africa in Lagos.
Osu said the MISTDO programme, which remained compulsory, covered 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 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 standardise basic training for downstream workers and to provide industry reference for prospective trainees.
“The programme requires robust accreditation of training centres for existing workers and new entrants into the downstream sector.
“Successful trainees are issued a certificate , valid for two years at a negotiated cost between the trainees and the certified training centres.
“Please note that DPR do not charge the trainees for the MISTDO programme.”
Osu noted that to further ensure transparency of operations between the training centres and trainees, DPR made it mandatory for trainers to publish their cost of providing training on the MISTDO portal, managed by DPR
“The DPR wishes to restate that as the regulatory agency, we will continue to provide robust oversight for safety of operations in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, in line with global best practices to ensure business sustainability,” he added.
