By Teddy Nwanunobi
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has reiterated that the Minimum Industry Safety Training for Downstream Operations (MISTDO) remains compulsory for all players in the downstream sector of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
It noted that the programme, introduced to safeguard operations in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry, remains critical to protecting those who operate within the space.
The oil and gas industry regulator launched the programme last year.
During the launch, the Department’s Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Auwalu Sarki, said that the industry, being a volatile sector, was prone to many hazards.
Sarki noted that majority of the accidents in the downstream sector were due to human errors.
“This has led to loss of human lives, destruction of properties and grave environmental pollution. Consequently, this puts the economy under immense pressure, because it is affected negatively by such impacts,” he stated.
The DPR, at the time, projected that MISTDO will be a prerequisite for the renewal of all new downstream licences nationwide, from January 1, 2021.
Reiterating the importance and need to adhere strictly to the directive in a statement, the DPR’s Head of Public Affairs, Paul Osu, explained that the initiative covers depots, petrol stations, product pipelines, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plants, as well as petroleum trucks.
“The programme, which was launched, following extensive collaborations with relevant stakeholders, including the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), 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.
“The objectives of MISTDO, amongst others, include: to enforce and standardise basic training for downstream workers, and to provide industry reference for prospective trainees,” Osu stated.
He noted that the programme requires robust accreditation of training centres for existing workers and new entrants into the downstream sector, where successful trainees are issued a certificate valid for two years at a negotiated cost between the trainees and the certified training centres.
While explaining that the DPR does not charge the trainees for the MISTDO programme, he pointed out 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 the regulator.
“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,” Osu said.
