OSCE seminar highlights methods of protecting oil and gas infrastructure from hazards in Turkmenistan
Management approaches and know-how tools aimed at protecting oil and gas infrastructure from natural or human-made hazards was the topic of an OSCE-organized online seminar that took place on 27 and 28 July 2021.
The two-day seminar brought together representatives of the Main Department of Civil Defense and Rescue Operations of Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry, the State Energy Institute, as well as other relevant ministries, law-enforcement bodies, oil and gas agencies and research institutions.
Participants learned about effective practices in assessing and managing possible risks and developing adequate preventive and response measures to emergencies in the oil and gas sector. The seminar provided an overview of advanced approaches in promoting ecological security in the extractive industry, and presented international experiences in ensuring cybersecurity.
Two international experts from the Russian Federation explained the technology of creating a unified information space for a decision support system as a guarantee of comprehensive security of oil and gas infrastructure. They also shared best practices in ensuring security in the oil and gas sector through using ‘smart’ technologies.
“Risks of hazards and their destructive effect represent a threat to uninterrupted and safe operations of strategically important infrastructure, including oil and gas infrastructure,” said William Leaf, Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “As part of its comprehensive approach to security, the OSCE provides the basis for concerted and consistent action to efficiently manage risks of hazards for the sake of sustainable development and security of society.”
“It is our belief that this seminar will support the efforts of the Government of Turkmenistan to reduce the risks of hazards and ensure ecological security in the oil and gas sector,” added Leaf.
The Centre organized the event within the framework of the project “Improving capacities of the host country to strengthen environmental protection system and energy security, phase II”.