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voice of
the security market
sector should work closely to
adopt a more proactive approach
to securing critical infrastructure
than the current reactive situations
that we see, including:
1. Conducting and subscribing to
sociopolitical risk assessments
and alerts and carry out con-
tinuous assessment to measure
impact on business operations.
2. Addressing porous border is-
sues in the evidence of terrorist
movements across borders.
3. Expanding and securing the pe-
rimeters of critical sites to allow
a multi layered early detection,
warning, deterrence and delay
based solution to identify and
deal with threats and adopting
the use of advanced technology
(sensors etc) for early detection
of threats, securing pipelines
etc.
4. Companies also need to address
the security gaps that evolve due
to convergence of cyber physical
threats.
5. Creating a dedicated critical
infrastructure security force to
deter and counter such attacks
against critical infrastructure.
Vulnerable
The current situation in Algeria
has not only elevated the risk
profile of the region but has also
highlighted the vulnerability of
these sites yet again. Given that
most of the OPEC countries
are volatile and have a high risk
profile, a global, co-ordinated,
and technologically advanced se-
curity strategy is required to tackle
issues including terrorism against
oil & gas infrastructures around
the world to ensure continuity
of supplies. n
security are also projected due to
various attacks on energy facilities
in the past five years. A simple
analysis reveals several loopholes in
the current situation:
1. Porous borders allowing terror-
ists from neighbouring unstable
countries to get through unde-
tected to carry out such attacks.
2. Lack of a layered security
approach and perimeters to
prevent unauthorised entry to
critical facilities.
3. Lack of technology to provide
early warning and detection of
threats.
4. Lack of tools to provide a
coordinated response to cyber-
physical threats.
5. And finally, the lack of a dedi-
cated security force to protect
critical infrastructure.
Proactive approach
There is much that needs to be
done to change the way security is
perceived and practised by oil &
gas companies and governments
of OPEC countries around the
world. Both public and the private
which if successful, could have
impacted over 10% of the world's
oil supply. The recent incident
in Amenas has left oil companies
thinking about the risk of doing
business in the highly volatile
regions of this world whilst
dealing with the everyday risks
and security threats that their
infrastructure face.
Loopholes
Although the vulnerable nature
of oil & gas infrastructure has
been driving security investments
recently, there is still a long way to
go in terms of achieving fail proof
levels of security and deterrence.
Adding to the woes of the opera-
tors is the increasing multitude of
threats both physical as well as
cyber threats. There is a growing
preference for total solutions with
flexible integration of indi-
vidual security systems like access
control, video surveillance and
intrusion-detection on one plat-
form. Heavy investments in cyber
Energy facilities have become fa-
vorable targets for dissident groups
due to the increasing attention of
world leaders towards oil & gas,
as consumption outstrips supply.
Terrorist groups are taking advan-
tage of this situation to achieve
their goals and gather greater pub-
licity towards their organisations.
However, the attacks on oil & gas
infrastructure are not new. There
have been numerous attacks in the
Middle East since 1968. In 1975,
the Arab Revolution terrorist
group seized more than 70 hostag-
es from the OPEC headquarters in
Vienna demanding over $50 mil-
lion to release them. Since 9/11,
pipelines, tankers, refineries and
oil terminals have been attacked
frequently across Iraq.
High risk
Oil tankers have been a target for
terrorists even in Sri Lanka and
in Israel. One of the biggest but
failed sabotages was that of Ras
Tanura in Saudi Arabia in 2002
TheAlgerianhostagecrisisarenewed
callforoil&gasinfrastructuresecurity
The Algerian gas plant hostage crisis has yet again
highlighted the vulnerability of oil & gas plants
around the world. Although a wide majority of at-
tacks on oil & gas incidents have happened in the
Middle east and North Africa recently, the global na-
ture of the oil & gas industry and the impact it has on
global economies demands that serious consideration
is given to securing critical infrastructure. Pipelines
in the United States to refineries in China and other
oil & gas infrastructure around the world face vary-
ing threat levels that range from information theft to
a terrorist attack. The economic impact and financial
damage of such attacks are significant. Being situated
in remote locations should be a cause to invest in se-
curing these infrastructures rather than an excuse for
not having adequate security. This according to Balaji
Srimoolanathan at Frost & Sullivan who here com-
ments on the issue in depth.
By Balaji Srimoolanathan, principal consultant Security, Frost & Sullivan
Balaji Srimoolanathan, principal
consultant Security, Frost & Sullivan.
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