Petroleum Authority of Brunei Darussalam (PA) is committed in joining the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic that has brought in new challenges and obstacles that has altered our normal lives and compelled us to become more resilient and innovative in our approach in responding to these changes. PA stands by its commitment to safeguard the value created from the Brunei Darussalam’s oil and gas industry while maintaining the safety and well-being of the people, community and operations by adhering to directives and guidelines set by the relevant authorities in Brunei Darussalam.
At PA, organizational excellence is propelled by the dedication and commitment of our people. Since the initial COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, as part of our Business Continuity Plan (BCP), PA has been proactive in ensuring the health and safety of our employees and their families by taking the necessary measures to reduce the risk of exposure and transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
PA plays a key role as the national regulator in supporting the oil and gas industry during this challenging time.
The Energy Sector Taskforce has enabled PA to work closely with the Ministry of Energy (ME), oil and gas operators and key stakeholders to ensure PA is able to effectively implement the appropriate strategies and actions in continuing the oil and gas operations in Brunei Darussalam while maintaining adherence to the directives and guidelines set by the relevant authorities.
When the first outbreak of the COVID-19 occurred in Brunei in March 2020, the PA COVID-19 Goodwill Project was established as part of PA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to assist the Ministry of Health (MOH) in aiding the communities and parties affected by the pandemic. The project, funded by the PA COVID-19 Goodwill Fund, was made possible by the generous contributions from the management and staff of PA, to give back to MOH and to the hardworking and dedicated frontliners and volunteers.
In 2020 and 2021, PA has donated over BND6,000 worth of in-kind donations in the form of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), patient care packages, washing machines, air purifiers, and other essentials for the frontline workers and youth volunteers working at the National Isolation Centers (NIC), quarantine centres, hospitals, clinics and vaccination centres across the country.
In 2021, PA together with Department of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, Department of Electrical Services (DES), and Safety, Health and Environment National Authority (SHENA) also supported the MOH at the National Coordination Centre in tackling COVID-19 outbreaks in the country.
Since 2020, PA has committed in assisting the underprivileged communities and individuals that are affected by the pandemic by extending assistance in the form of basic daily necessities to over 140 families across all four districts. PA also has participated in “Projek Infaq Kasih Ramadhan” that was organized by the Department of Energy, Prime Minister’s Office by distributing donation items to 60 underprivileged families in conjunction with the holy month of Ramadhan. The initiative hopes to alleviate their burden in Ramadhan whilst encouraging our people to be proactive in going above and beyond their work scope to help those in need.
In supporting the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Blood Bank efforts in maintaining constant and adequate blood supply for the country, PA also organized blood donation drives that saw a total of 95 pints of blood collected since the establishment of PA.
PA acknowledges the challenges and complexities brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic and stands with ME and all oil and gas operators in the country to continue to play our part in safeguarding the value of our national treasure by maintaining an uninterrupted and reliable supply of oil and gas to fuel our nation without compromising the health and safety of all our frontliners, the community and the operations.
In the face of this challenging time, PA remains resilient and agile in responding to the volatile market conditions and remains steadfast in achieving our mission of maximizing the value created from the full value chain.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the dedicated frontliners and essential workers that are working tirelessly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s do our part in flattening the curve – #stayathome, practice social distancing and keep your mask on when you are out in public.