Energy Department Abu Dhabi introduces gas safety regulations

Abu Dhabi, The Department of Energy - Abu Dhabi (DoE) introduced its regulatory roadmap for the petroleum products sector, with a focus on gas systems in residential, commercial, and industrial establishments. The new regulatory process was presented to 200 key government and private sector representatives at the DoE's inaugural Gas Safety and Compliance workshop. The presentation comes ahead of the DoE's release of Executive Regulations for Gas Systems and a unified gas code for residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The regulations will set wide-ranging safety standards and protocols for all gas-related activities as well as penalties for non-compliance. It also establishes a DoE mandatory register of certified gas companies, engineers, operators and inspectors. The reforms are part of a wider regulatory overhaul that gives the DoE oversight of the integrity of gas systems, drives the highest safety standards, best practices, and enforces compliance in the interest of public safety. The reforms are designed to safeguard Abu Dhabi's communities, address unsafe acts, improve sector efficiency, and promote socioeconomic growth. In preparation for this revision, the DoE has been collaborating with other Abu Dhabi partners to issue key compliance documents such as the gas system certificate of completion, gas annual operation and maintenance contract, no objection certificate and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) filling and withdrawal permits. This year alone, the DoE has issued more than 4,000 LPG filling permits, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM). Dr. Saif Saeed Al Qubaisi, Acting Director-General for Regulation at DoE, emphasised the collective responsibility of both government and private sectors in shaping a safe and sustainable energy future for the emirate. Over the past year, the DoE has actively conducted safety awareness campaigns and partnered with various establishments through its LPG Systems Safety Enhancement Programme. Some key achievements include inspections of more than 11,0 00 buildings and food establishments, with around 1,700 requiring safety upgrades - 700 of which have been completed and safe isolation of about 160 abandoned buildings. In June this year, the DoE launched its 'Petroleum and Gas Systems Summer Readiness Campaign' to assist establishments in meeting safety standards, compliance requirements, and navigating upcoming regulatory transformation. DoE teams have been engaging with gas systems operators, supervisors, facilities managers, property owners, and workers across several locations in the Emirate from Abu Dhabi city to Al Ain, Sila, Mussafah and Al Dhafra. Visits covered a range of establishments including restaurants, bakeries and drive-in kitchens to hotels, hospitals, special needs institutions, universities, workers villages, and industrial plants. Source: Bahrain News Agency