Development of Maintenance Excellence in NIS Gas Companies.

Project Description

The activities of the project were as follows:
• Analysis of the existing maintenance practices implemented by the
participating Gas Companies.
• Organization of training on site and/or study tours to EU countries for
the management staff of the Gas Companies to introduce modern
maintenance principles and operations in the gas transmission
systems.
• Elaboration of a set of harmonized standards, norms and practices
applicable to the countries based on EU best practices, which take
into account the need for realistic low-cost, high impact preventive
interventions.
• Support to the participating Gas Companies in the elaboration of
maintenance manuals of best practices; each participating Gas
Company will have its own manual on the basis of common and
shared principles of good and preventive maintenance, in order to
assure the standards harmonization between the participating
countries.
• Identification of the training needs of the participating Gas
Companies technical personnel.
• Organization of training sessions on site for the participating Gas Companies personnel, in order to undertake the practical transfer of
know-how.
• Implementation of test maintenance actions.
• Identification of the IT equipment necessary to support a
computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
• Preparation of the Technical Specifications in order to allow the
relevant services of the European Commission in Brussels to launch
the tender for the supply of the equipment required.
• Assistance to the EC for the delivery and installation of the
equipment and for the eventual introduction of the CMMS.

Project Objective

To enhance the security of gas supply within the region and to Europe, by supporting the involved countries to reliably as possible so as to meet both domestic and export/transit demands.

Specific Objectives

To support the modernization of maintenance policies and practices in the gas Companies of the participating NIS countries, according to EU best practices, by facilitating the introduction of international standards and practices in maintaining
gas transportation systems, taking into account environmental and
safety concerns.

Expected Results

The intended results were as follows:
• Indirect enhancement of the security of gas supplies within the
regions themselves and to Europe.
• Support by the training program that the beneficiary countries are
able to maintaining existing gas transportation infrastructures to
function as safely and reliably as possible and to satisfy domestic
and export/transit demands.
• Encouragement to the gas companies for them to modernize
maintenance policies and practices in the gas Companies of the
participating NIS countries, according to EU best practices.
• Setting forth and discussion of proposals as to the introduction of
international standards and practices in maintaining gas
transportation systems, taking into account environmental and safety
concerns.
• Provision of support that preventive gas maintenance policy and
practices in gas transportation systems are developed by the
participating Gas Companies.
• Provision of support that participating Gas Companies improve
maintenance practices up to international standards for gas transport
systems.
• Provision of training programs to management staff that the Gas
Companies may support the introduction of good maintenance
practice.
• Provision of specific training for technical staff including practical
transfer of know-how and introduction of latest and best EU equipment and practices.
Intended Results:
• Practical support to the CMMS equipment contractor in the implementation