The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says the Minimum Industry Safety Training for Downstream operations (MISTDO) is a compulsory programme introduced to safeguard operations in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

Mr Paul Osu, Head, Public Affairs, DPR, made this known in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos

Osu said the MISTDO programme covers Depots, Petrol Stations, Product Pipelines, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plants and Petroleum Trucks.

According to him, the programme was launched following extensive collaborations with relevant stakeholders including the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

Osu said it was a direct response to upsurge in downstream sector accidents and operational mishaps leading  to high casualty and fatality rates averaging 54 fatalities yearly within a five year period.

He said: “The objectives  of MISTDO amongst others, include to enforce and standardise basic training for downstream workers and to provide industry reference for prospective trainees.

“The programme requires robust accreditation of training centres for existing workers and new entrants into the downstream sector.

“Successful trainees are issued a certificate valid for two years at a negotiated cost between the trainees and the certified training centres.

“Please note that DPR does not charge the trainees for the MISTDO programme.”

Osu noted that to further ensure transparency of operations between the training centres and trainees, DPR made it mandatory for trainers to publish their cost of providing training on the MISTDO portal managed by DPR

“The DPR wishes to restate that as the regulatory agency, we will continue to provide robust oversight for safety of operations in the the Nigerian oil and gas industry in line with global best practices to ensure business sustainability,” he added.