OREANDA-NEWS. January 28, 2011. Gazprom Neft has been appointed technical writer to develop new technical regulations "On Oil-Refining and Petrochemical Facilities Safety". The decision was made by the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation following the results of the meeting held in mid-January 2011.

Pursuant to the instruction by the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, Gazprom Neft shall prepare a statement of work for the regulations development and the first draft of the document. The process is expected to be completed in March 2011.

The order to form proposals to drive the improvement of the legal framework for handling industrial safety at the refining facilities of the Fuel and Energy Complex was given by the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev following the results of the Committee's on Modernization and Technological Development of Economy of Russia meeting in March 2010. A new safety related concept that is sensitive to the best international practices and state-of-the-art methods and technologies was referred by Gazprom Neft to the Ministry of Energy last October.

"Utilizing a new approach to safety management will not only allow increasing technical and economic performance within the industry but will give rise to the development of related branches including machine building, professional equipment, and electronics. The new approach to safety management may turn one of the elements in the country's modernization and generate a demand for new technologies and engineering solutions" – Director of Logistical Support and Capital Construction Directorate Abdulla Karaev believes.