The Operational Safety Regime for Oil Refineries was subject to new regulations of the Brazilian Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), published on Thursday (30) in the Official Gazette (DOU). The ANP Resolution No. 5/2014 consolidates and enhances operational safety standards for petroleum refining. The approved text includes 16 management practices, divided into three groups: Practices related to Leadership, Personnel and Management Practices relating to Facilities and Operations and Technology. Most of these practices was already embedded in the existing regulation and the others were partially recorded in surveys conducted by the regulatory agency.

The regulation of operational security for the petroleum refining industry had its first consolidation with ANP Resolution 16/2010. Since then, both internal and with other stakeholders, together with the pilot audits between April and September 2011 discussions suggested the need for expansion of its coverage and the adoption of a regulatory instrument focusing on managing safety. 

The purpose of this new regulation was also the subject of consultation and public hearing in July 2012 and the new phase of internal discussion. 

The refineries in operation on the date of entry into force of the resolution have two years to fully adjust to the rules that introduce new operational security.