DPR releases guidelines for operations of downstream gas facilities

12 Oct DPR releases guidelines for operations of downstream gas facilities

The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Sunday released guidelines for the establishment and operations of downstream gas facilities across the country to avert explosions.
In a statement in Abuja, Director of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Sarki Auwalu, said the guidelines stipulates the minimum requirements, procedures and conditions to be fulfilled before the grant of approvals or licences for the construction, installation, modification, takeover, relocation and operations of downstream gas facilities in Nigeria.
It includes guidelines for the establishment and operations of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG, also known as cooking gas, refilling plants and retail outlets; guidelines for establishment of auto gas refuelling stations and add-on gas facility; and guidelines for the establishment of gas storage and utilization. Auwalu explained that the guidelines were developed to enhance gas penetration and utilization, enhance operational safety as well as ease of doing business in the oil and gas sector.
He said: “Companies intending to establish these facilities must satisfy all necessary requirements stipulated by DPR and obtain the underlisted applicable approvals: Site suitability approval; Approval to Construct (ATC)/Approval to Install; and Licence to Operate.
“Necessary amenities and equipment’s like functional automated/manual leak tester, functional fire alarm system, and mounted gas detectors, adequate fire water storage and sprinklers, perimeter fence with fire wall amongst others must be provided in the facilities.”
Auwalu said the DPR had commenced investigation into recent gas explosions and the commiserated with victims