By Adedapo Adesanya
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has announced plans to enhance products and services quality attainment in the nation’s oil and gas sector beginning from 2022.
This was disclosed by Mr Farouk Salim, the SON Director-General, in Abuja while inaugurating a Steering Committee to coordinate modalities for implementing the provisions of SON Act No 14 of 2015 as it relates to the energy industry.
In a statement from the body’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Mr Fashina Rilwan, Mr Salim noted that the organisation under his leadership was determined to ensure that every area of operation in the sector was standardized to guarantee the quality, safety, and a sustainable environment in line with international best practices.
The SON Chief Executive disclosed that steps have been taken to develop greater human and material capability in the organisation to provide necessary technical support to the oil and gas ecosystem in such areas as piping inspection certification, piping construction and storage tank inspection and certification.
Others include Asset Management Standards, Quality Management System Requirements for the Petrochemical, Oil and Natural Gas Industry as well as Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training amongst others.
While acknowledging the global trend in reducing dependence on oil and gas, Mr Salim posited that the industry will continue to be relevant for some time to come, stressing that effective regulation is therefore imperative for optimum value attainment.
He explained that “SON’s quality foray into the oil and gas industry is phased into short, medium and long term due to the strategic importance of the sector to Nigeria’s economy and the attendant need to establish, maintain and improve standards, assure the accuracy of measurements as well as the safety and durability of products and services within the industry.”
Mr Salim tasked the Committee with the responsibility to enhance SON’s activities and strategic repositioning in the oil and gas industry to effectively regulate quality and promote international best practices.
The SON Chief Executive posited that the organisation is prepared to overcome challenges that may arise in the course of striving to improve standardisation and quality assurance in the Oil and Gas Sector.
He expressed his confidence in the competence of the committee members to deliver on the assignment given their wealth of knowledge and experience.
