Post Jaipur blasts, Govt for more security for oil & gas firms

The serial blasts in Jaipur last Tuesday have stoked concerns over the safety of oil and gas installations in the country. The Petroleum Ministry rushed a directive, a day after the explosions, asking its state-run firms to take extra precaution against possible terror strikes at such facilities, especially oil and gas pipelines.

“Potential terrorist-related crisis situations should be incorporated in the CMP (Crisis Management Plan) along with the response mechanisms/capacity building required to handle such situations,” said the ministry in its May 14 letter. The letter, addressed to heads of the state-run companies, asked them to make “appropriate arrangements to provide adequate/effective security cover to oil and gas pipelines”.

It also asked them to formulate plans and build capacity to handle “potential emergencies” that may take place within the “vulnerable” facility or at their off-site (residential quarters within campus). “Mock drills should be held to test the efficacy of the CMP,” said the letter. The Government’s concern in the past have been focused on providing security to off-shore oil and gas producing platforms and coastal refineries. In January, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan had asked the oil and gas companies to prepare individual CMPs each year outlining their readiness to tackle accidents and extremist strikes.