The Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi (DoE) introduced its regulatory roadmap for the petroleum products sector, with a focus on gas systems in residential, commercial, and industrial establishments, and called on stakeholders to unite in efforts to build safer communities across the emirate.
The presentation comes ahead of the DoE’s release of ‘Executive Regulations for Gas Systems’ and a unified gas code for residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The regulations will set wide ranging safety standards, protocols, and controls for all gas-related activities, as well as violations and penalties for non-compliance. It also establishes a DoE mandatory register of certified gas companies, engineers, operators and inspectors, said a statement from the DoE.
DoE said that it has been collaborating with other Abu Dhabi partners to issue key compliance documents such as the gas system certificate of completion, gas annual operation & maintenance contract, no objection certificate and LPG filling and withdrawal permits. This year alone, the DoE has issued more than 4,000 LPG filling permits.
Acting Director General for Regulation at DoE, Dr Saif Saeed Al Qubaisi emphasised the collective responsibility of both government and private sectors in shaping a safe, secure, and sustainable energy future for the emirate. “Safety is more than just a regulatory requirement; it is a shared responsibility that must be prioritised throughout the gas value chain. Gas is familiar in everyone’s life in Abu Dhabi, and it is imperative that it is used safely and responsibly by everyone in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors – from operators and contractors to food establishments and homeowners,” he noted.
Ahmed Alsheebani, Acting Petroleum Products Sector Executive Director at DoE who led over 20 site visits that reached over 120,000 stakeholders during the summer, expressed optimism about the progress of the sector. He commented, “I’m pleased to say that compliance to safety standards is encouraging. But much work remains to grow a culture of voluntary safety compliance.”
“Complying with safety protocols protects lives and the community. It also brings significant social and economic benefits, such as enhanced operational efficiency, improved business reputation, more reliable gas systems, cost savings and safer communities. Safety will always remain our number one priority and with government and private sectors’ stakeholders, we still have more to accomplish,” he continued.
In June, the Department of Energy (DoE) launched a summer readiness awareness campaign about petroleum and gas systems safety and security in Abu Dhabi. The summer readiness campaign aimed to enhance the safe use of petroleum products and promote a culture of safety awareness across the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors, particularly for anyone using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) daily.
