The two parties have also agreed to find ways to simplify and enhance oil and gas legislation in the country.

According to SAWS Director General of International Cooperation Department Lin Yisheng, “The Lloyd’s Register Group has extensive worldwide experience of safety, health, environment and quality management.”

“Through close co-operation, we can integrate the Lloyd’s Register Group’s advanced safety management concepts, technologies and successful global experience in the oil and gas industries with our current safety regulations.”

“This will enable us to construct a set of comprehensive safety regulations for Chinese oil and gas industries, which is suitable for the Chinese culture and legal system, further expediting the development of safety management systems in China to become world class and the equal of other major oil producing countries in the world. This will permit the effective implementation of the monitoring of safety in the production activities of both China’s national and foreign oil and gas companies,” added Lin.

The safety task force which will be established from this agreement intends to seek open discussions with all the players in the sector and will constantly make checks on both onshore and offshore facilities. It will also work with the relevant authorities to see legislative refinements and improve initiatives to which will help reduce industrial accidents and help foster a culture of safety in the sector.

In a statement Lloyd’s Register said, “Identifying and addressing these issues through workable legislative, economic and practical measures will be vital to successfully meeting the aims of enhancing quality, safety and environmental performance. To achieve this, the Lloyd’s Register Group will draw on its considerable experience as a global provider of risk management solutions.”