Decommissioning and restoration are about reclaiming resources, revitalising ecosystems and driving economic growth. “Over the next few decades, we plan to remove more than 30 platforms, and over 70 pipelines between 2025 and 2029,” said Permanent Secretary (Energy) at the Prime Minister’s Office Hajah Farida binti Dato Seri Paduka Haji Talib.
She said this in her keynote speech during the opening of ‘Decommissioning and Restoration: Fostering Excellence through Regulations, Innovation, and Sustainable Practices’ workshop at a hotel yesterday.
“Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn Bhd (BSP) will lead these efforts, emphasising sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the economy. A key initiative is the establishment of Brunei’s state-of-the-art decommissioning yard. This facility will promote sustainable industrial practices, generate additional income, create jobs, and reduce industrial waste,” she said.
Hajah Farida added, “Critical to our success is the collaborative ecosystem we have fostered. By partnering with government agencies, industry leaders and research institutions, as well as associations and societies such as SPE, ASCOPE, and IOGP, we ensure continuous improvement and knowledge exchange. These partnerships enable us to develop expertise, implement effective training programmes and establish robust certification standards that uphold the integrity of our decommissioning practices.”
The two-day workshop, organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) is joined by 100 participants from 39 organisations and six countries to discuss the regional challenges within the decommissioning sector by providing a vital platform for industry experts and stakeholders to explore key areas critical to the future of decommissioning practices.
Among the highlights include ‘Regulatory Challenges and Optimisation’ – where the landscape of decommissioning regulations evolves, addressing the importance of understanding and navigating requirements to ensure compliance and minimise risks.
The workshop explores effective collaboration models, best practices for stakeholder engagement and strategies for building partnerships to streamline decommissioning activities.
Other areas in focus at the workshop are risk management, which addresses the various risks inherent in decommissioning projects, mitigation strategies and contingency planning, and a discussion on environmental sustainability. – Azlan Othman
