GNBS ensuring monitoring, standardisation in petroleum sector

-invites businesses to access training

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has been the main agency tasked with ensuring accurate measurements of Guyana’s crude being lifted from the Atlantic Ocean since the start of operations in the local petroleum sector.

GNBS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Lloyd David told the DPI that since 2019, the Bureau has been gazetted to monitor the sector, particularly issues related to measurement.   

“The inspectors were trained to monitor the calibration of the various metres and measurements emanating from the FPSO, in terms of crude being lifted to other vessels,” Mr. David explained.

GNBS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Lloyd David

Inspectors calibrate measuring devices to ensure that they are accurate. They work on a rotational basis and can spend up to three weeks at sea monitoring the measurements to ensure they meet the required standard, he said.

Since the pandemic, the inspectors are required to isolate for two weeks before being dispatched to their location in the Atlantic Ocean.

The GNBS has also been working with companies which are interested in benefiting from the petroleum sector.

“Many of the local companies are having the desire to tap into the oil and gas sector which requires them to be certified to a number of international standards,” Mr. David said, adding that companies cannot offer services to the sector without first being internationally certified to some key standards.

These include International Labour Organization (ILO) standards: ISO 45001, which is the only International Standard for occupational health and safety; ISO 9001 – the Quality Management Systems Standard and ISO 22001- Food Safety Management System.  The ISO 22001 Standard is a requirement for any organisation in the food chain.

“So, if a company is desirous of supplying food items to the oil and gas community, they are required to meet certain food safety regulations HACCP and also ISO 22001 Standard,” Mr. David explained.

According to Safe Food Alliance, which is a technical service provider focused on addressing the needs of food, HACCP, (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points), “is an internationally recognised method of identifying and managing food safety related risk.”

Further, Mr. David said, the GNBS Consultancy Services Department is always ready to assist the public to understand its intentions and to recommend the appropriate standards needed for services in the petroleum sector.

He advocates that persons adopt the standards to increase their competitiveness, reiterating that the GNBS can provide the necessary training.

“We have the capacity here to offer training to companies, whether it is an individual within the company joining the training that is provided or we can train an entire company to implement the components of the various standards,” he said.

Standardisation is critical for any country.  “There must be standards in order for there to be quality,” Mr. David emphasised.  

The GNBS has available a catalogue of more than 500 national and international standards available.  Mr. David is urging stakeholders to contact the agency for guidance on how to obtain the relevant standards for their businesses.

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