Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Within the framework of this forum, issues related to the digitalization of the oil and gas sector, modernization of production processes, enhancing the reliability of energy infrastructure, and ensuring industrial safety were discussed with the participation of local and international experts.

Makhamat Saydazimov, Head of Department at the Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety, participated in a special technical session held on May 13 as part of the forum's program. In his presentation, he provided analytical insights on the experience of replacing traditional hydraulic testing at hazardous production facilities with an approach that considers risk factors, namely Risk-Based Inspection (RBI), as well as current solutions in the diagnostics of non-standard pipelines.

📊 Current challenges facing the industry During the session, it was emphasized that the moral and physical wear of equipment and pipelines in the country's oil and gas and petrochemical industries remains one of the critical risk factors affecting industrial safety. According to the analyses conducted: — over 63% of the more than 16,000 kilometers of main gas pipelines under state control have been in operation for over 30 years; — 89% of the units at gas compressor stations and 75% of the equipment in the chemical and petrochemical industries have exceeded their initial designed service life; — nearly 46% of pipelines are not structurally adapted for the passage of traditional internal diagnostic devices (non-piggable).

💡 A new era in industrial safety: innovative and digital solutions The importance of introducing modern approaches based on international best practices was highlighted, moving away from old-standard tests that are highly costly, disrupt the production process, and put additional stress on the equipment. In particular, special attention was given to the following areas:

• Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) This approach implies a gradual transition from calendar-based inspections to organizing checks based on the analysis of the equipment's actual technical condition, the degree of corrosion, the probability of failure, and the level of risk. This ensures that the inspection process is more precise, targeted, and effective.

• Diagnostics of non-standard pipelines The session also addressed the issue of inspecting pipelines where the passage of traditional diagnostic tools is not possible, i.e., non-piggable pipelines. Such technologies allow for the detection of dangerous defects in closed or complex sections without interrupting the continuity of the gas transportation process.

• Modern NDT and digital monitoring The necessity for the widespread implementation of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) methods and continuous digital monitoring systems for the integrity of equipment and pipelines was also noted. Such systems are crucial for the early detection of risks, real-time assessment of technical conditions, and the prevention of emergency situations.

🤝 International experience and exchange of advanced technologies Within the framework of the forum, an exchange of views took place with international experts who are global leaders in the field. Specifically, advanced practices in technical condition assessment, risk-based analysis, and digital solutions were discussed with representatives of the ROSEN Group, a company specializing in pipeline diagnostics.

🌐 Information Service of the Committee for Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety