BRUNEI-MUARA

BRUNEI will soon be establishing a regulatory body to oversee health and safety compliance in the oil and gas industry.

The Energy Department at the Prime Minister’s Office (EDPMO) said yesterday that the body will be launched in February 2016, and will eventually expand to cover HSE compliance in other industrial sectors, such as the construction sector.

“We prefer a phased approach, the body will be very similar to other government agencies that are involved in the oil and gas industry,” said Steve England, head of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) at EDMPO.

“The body will look after all HSE issues from oil and gas, construction and other sectors.

“This is an important key development and it will bring together all the ministries involved in HSE development,” he said during a press conference at Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB) yesterday.

England spoke to media at the conclusion of a two-day forum on the development of HSE capabilities in the country.

Themed ‘Engage, Communicate and Deliver’, the two-day forum was organised by ITB and EDPMO.

Some 100 participants from oil and gas companies, government agencies and higher education institutes attended the event, where speakers from Brunei, Singapore, the UK, Malaysia and Japan delivered five keynote presentations.

The forum was aimed at encouraging key stakeholders from the industry, government and education sectors to exchange ideas on how to make and develop Brunei as centre for HSE excellence. England said one of the outcomes of the forum was to develop a competency framework for HSE professionals.

Another outcome is the establishment of a stakeholder council to “drive leadership and ownership of HSE”.

England said the proposed kick-off time for the council would be three months from now.

“The senior council would involve key management people and government. The council will develop strategies to implement key elements of the HSE legislation, as well how to develop further strategies as we move forward with HSE development in Brunei.”

The Brunei Times