Emergency response system

Emergency response and crisis management are the key processes in KPO management. Emergency preparedness and response address possible emergencies and incidents, their prevention and mitigation of impact on people, the environment, the Company’s assets and reputation.

In case of any incident, accident or emergency, KPO operates a robust three-level Emergency Response system used to trigger a prompt response, assessment of emergency scale, planning and implementation of actions to localize and eliminate emergency and its consequences. The system is graphically shown below.

In 2021, KPO implemented a number of measures geared to enhance the efficiency of the emergency management system. For instance, level II Field and Aksay Incident Management Teams were merged in an integrated team to improve the performance of the IMC, including:

  • improved communication among personnel;
  • reduced decision-making time as no information is duplicated;
  • created a general reserve of volunteers with different functions, which in turn created a capability to engage additional personnel in case of protracted emergency situations.

Besides, activities continued to enhance the performance of incident command centres. Video-communication has been set up between Aksay and Field Incident Management Centres in a roundtable format. Which made it possible to carry our IMC activities under strict quarantine restrictions, and remotely engage certain personnel in the centre’s activities.

Emergency Response Drills

In 2021, as part of ensuring the readiness of level I forces and resources, all Company’s hazardous production facilities conducted monthly emergency response drills with the involvement of the Facility Incident Command Team (ICT), emergency rescue teams and KPO and contractors’ personnel.

The total number of emergency response drills conducted in 2021 at KPO facilities for the purpose of exercising the actions of level I incident command teams and emergency rescue units amounted to 103 drills (80 in 2020).

The number of completed emergency response drills, 2020 — 2021

The level II and III centres’ members took part in the following real mobilizations and drills, which allowed maintaining the readiness level:

Level II and III drills conducted in 2021

Type of drill

Date

Objectives

Participants

Integrated Exercise «Aurora»

August 2021

Check the personnel’s understanding of the existing procedures as well as develop skills of the IMT members who had recently had training

Level II Incident Management Team, Level III Crisis Management Team

Table Top exercise

August 2021

Exercise actions of forces and resources in deployment of booms at Kushum channel for the interception of an oil spill in case of an accident at KATS.

Bolshoi Chagan OPS ICT, firefighting team,

Weekly theoretical and practical drills and exercises were conducted throughout 2021 with the observance of all sanitary norms and requirements for social distancing and with the engagement of KPO emergency rescue teams, namely:

  • firefighting teams;
  • gas rescue team;
  • voluntary gas rescue units;
  • medical personnel;

Besides, in 2021, KPO continued training of staff in civil protection via the e-learning system, as required by the RoQ legislation.

Throughout 2021, representatives of KPO emergency rescue teams and units responded to 25 calls by going out to settlement to provide assistance in extinguishing steppe fires at agricultural facilities, household outbuildings, and forestbelf fires.

KPO and Contractor personnel H<sub>2</sub>S protection strategy

Since 2019, KPO has been implementing its strategy on H2S protection of both own and contractor personnel aimed at reducing the risk of personnel exposure to the hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in case of potential hydrocarbon discharges within the Field.  As part of the strategy, the Company provides filter masks and personal gas detectors both to KPO and its contractor personnel and Field visitors.  The Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) Distribution Centre based in Aksai operates a centralized location for personal protective equipment issue.