EU gets tougher on offshore drilling

TOUGHER safety laws for oil and gas companies operating offshore in Europe are on the cards later this year in the wake of the BP oil spill, the European Commission has said.

A final decision on proposals for EU-wide legislation will be made in the wake of talks at commission headquarters in Brussels yesterday between industry representatives and Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger – the second since the spill.

The commission called for reinforced security measures at the first meeting in May, when all major oil and gas companies were asked by Oettinger to fill out a 12-point questionnaire, indicating in detail the measures they are already taking.

Those replies were delivered ahead of yesterday’s follow-up talks, and a commission spokesman said: “The commission is currently analysing the existing EU and national legislation and will complete its assessment on this basis. Depending on the results, Commissioner Oettinger will come out with new legislative and policy proposals this autumn.”

Oettinger commented: “No regulatory regime alone can give us 100% guarantees of safety.

“Much depends also on the attitude and practices of operators and on having an operational system available. I wish to make sure that the necessary legislation is in place and effectively implemented and that, at the same time, all possible efforts are made by the industry to avoid a similar accident...”

Minimum industrial safety standards for oil platforms are set out in a directive on “equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres”.

Because of the extra high risk, there are specific regulations covering on and offshore drilling for oil, setting out minimum health and safety protection against fire and explosions as well as requirements for alarm systems and escape routes.

Direct responsibility rests with national authorities but the European Maritime Safety Agency has its own fleet of oil crisis vessels under contract in areas of the EU, to help tackle pollution emergencies.