Course Details

Business Continuity Management for Energy and Utilities Sector Training Course

Introduction

The energy and utilities sector forms the backbone of modern society, delivering essential services like electricity, water, gas, and telecommunications that are indispensable for daily life, economic activity, and national security. A disruption to these critical services, even for a short period, can trigger cascading failures across multiple sectors, leading to widespread societal impact, economic paralysis, and significant public safety risks. Our intensive 10-day "Business Continuity Management for Energy and Utilities Sector" training course is meticulously designed to equip professionals within power generation, transmission, distribution, water management, oil & gas, and telecommunications with the specialized knowledge and practical frameworks required to develop, implement, and maintain robust Business Continuity Management (BCM) programs tailored to the unique complexities, interdependencies, and regulatory mandates of this vital industry.

This comprehensive program delves into the specific challenges of managing critical infrastructure, ensuring operational technology (OT) resilience, navigating complex regulatory landscapes, and coordinating effectively with government agencies and emergency services. Participants will gain in-depth understanding of how to conduct a sector-specific Business Impact Analysis (BIA), prioritize essential service delivery, design resilient operational models, and establish effective incident response protocols for widespread outages. By the end of this specialized training, you will be proficient in establishing a resilient BCM framework that not only safeguards energy and utility operations but also ensures the continuous delivery of essential services, upholds national security, and maintains public welfare in the face of any unforeseen challenge.

Duration

10 Days

Target Audience

The "Business Continuity Management for Energy and Utilities Sector" training course is essential for a wide range of professionals across the energy, water, gas, and telecommunications industries who are responsible for maintaining critical infrastructure, ensuring service delivery, and managing operational risks. This includes:

• Operations Managers/Directors: Directly responsible for the continuity of energy generation, transmission, distribution, or utility services.
• SCADA/OT Engineers and Managers: Focused on the operational technology systems critical for utility control.
• Infrastructure Managers: Overseeing the physical assets, plants, and networks.
• Business Continuity Managers/Coordinators: Within energy and utility companies, responsible for BCM program development.
• Risk Management Professionals: Specializing in operational, infrastructure, and systemic risks within the sector.
• Cybersecurity Professionals: Protecting critical energy and utility control systems (OT/ICS).
• Emergency Preparedness and Response Teams: Involved in large-scale outage management and incident response.
• Compliance and Regulatory Affairs Officers: Ensuring adherence to industry-specific regulations (e.g., EPRA, WARMA, CAK).
• Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Managers: Integrating safety protocols into emergency and continuity plans.
• Senior Leadership/Executives: Accountable for the resilience of critical national infrastructure.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the "Business Continuity Management for Energy and Utilities Sector" training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the unique threats, interdependencies, and regulatory environment for BCM in the energy and utilities sector.
• Interpret and apply specific BCM guidelines from energy regulators (e.g., EPRA), water authorities (e.g., WARMA), and telecommunications bodies (e.g., CAK).
• Conduct a sector-specific Business Impact Analysis (BIA) for critical infrastructure and service delivery.
• Define appropriate Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPOs) for operational technology and service restoration.
• Develop robust continuity strategies tailored for power grids, water networks, gas pipelines, and communication systems.
• Implement effective incident response and crisis management protocols for widespread outages and infrastructure failures.
• Understand and manage the complex interdependencies within the energy and utilities ecosystem and with other critical sectors.
• Plan and execute realistic exercises and drills to validate the effectiveness of energy and utility continuity plans.
• Ensure the BCM program aligns with national security priorities and international best practices for critical infrastructure.
• Contribute significantly to maintaining essential service delivery, public safety, and economic stability during disruptive events.

Course Modules

Module 1: The Criticality and Unique Context of BCM in Energy & Utilities

• Understanding the indispensable nature of energy and utility services for society and economy.
• Overview of the unique threat landscape: physical attacks, cyber threats to OT/ICS, natural disasters, equipment failure, human error.
• Consequences of service disruptions: cascading failures, economic paralysis, public health crises, national security implications.
• Key regulatory bodies and their mandates for resilience in the energy and utilities sector (e.g., EPRA, WARMA, CAK in Kenya).
• The concept of 'systemic risk' and interconnectedness within the sector.

Module 2: Governance, Policy & Regulatory Compliance

• Establishing a robust BCM governance framework that meets regulatory expectations for energy and utilities.
• Developing BCM policies and charters aligned with sector-specific mandates and national security interests.
• Defining clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability for BCM across operational and corporate functions.
• Integrating BCM with operational risk management, safety management, and security frameworks (physical and cyber).
• Requirements for reporting BCM capabilities and incidents to regulatory authorities.

Module 3: Business Impact Analysis (BIA) for Critical Infrastructure & Services

• Conducting a BIA focused on essential service delivery points, control systems (SCADA/ICS), and critical infrastructure assets.
• Identifying the minimum essential service levels required during a disruption.
• Determining RTOs and RPOs for power generation, transmission, distribution, water treatment, gas supply, and telecommunication networks.
• Assessing the impact of outages on customers, interconnected utilities, emergency services, and national economy.
• Mapping complex operational interdependencies between different utility components and services.

Module 4: Risk Assessment & Threat Mitigation for Operational Technology (OT)

• Identifying specific threats and vulnerabilities to SCADA, ICS, and other operational technology systems.
• Assessing the likelihood and impact of cyberattacks, control system failures, and physical damage to OT.
• Implementing risk mitigation strategies for critical infrastructure: physical security, cybersecurity controls, redundancy.
• Understanding the convergence of IT and OT and its implications for BCM.
• Developing threat intelligence capabilities for sector-specific risks.

Module 5: Continuity Strategies for Energy & Utility Operations

• Strategies for maintaining power generation (e.g., distributed generation, microgrids).
• Ensuring resilience of transmission and distribution networks (e.g., grid hardening, smart grid technologies).
• Continuity plans for water treatment, purification, and distribution networks.
• Strategies for gas pipeline integrity and supply chain management.
• Maintaining telecommunication network connectivity and essential voice/data services.

Module 6: Infrastructure Resilience & Physical Security

• Designing physical infrastructure for resilience against natural hazards and malicious acts.
• Implementing robust physical security measures for plants, substations, and control centers.
• Strategies for protecting critical equipment and vital records.
• Redundancy and diversity in physical infrastructure components.
• Maintenance and inspection programs to prevent infrastructure failures.

Module 7: Incident Response & Emergency Management for Utilities

• Developing sector-specific incident response plans for power outages, water contamination, gas leaks, and network failures.
• Establishing a centralized Incident Command System (ICS) or Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
• Protocols for rapid fault diagnosis, isolation, and restoration of services.
• Managing field operations, safety of personnel, and public warnings during an emergency.
• Coordinating with local emergency services and government disaster response agencies.

Module 8: Inter-Sector Dependencies & Cross-Agency Coordination

• Understanding the critical interdependencies between electricity, water, telecommunications, and other essential services.
• Developing formal agreements and protocols for mutual aid and resource sharing between utility companies.
• Liaising with government emergency management agencies, national security bodies, and other critical infrastructure sectors.
• Participating in national-level continuity exercises and simulations.
• Establishing common operational pictures and information sharing mechanisms across sectors.

Module 9: Supply Chain Continuity for Energy & Utilities

• Identifying critical suppliers of fuel, chemicals, equipment, and specialized services.
• Strategies for diversifying supplier base and building strategic reserves.
• Developing contractual agreements with suppliers that include BCM and emergency response clauses.
• Managing logistics for emergency repairs and essential operational supplies.
• Addressing long lead times for specialized components and equipment.

Module 10: Testing, Maintenance & Continuous Improvement

• Designing and conducting rigorous exercises for energy and utility continuity plans (e.g., grid black start, water contamination response).
• Involving operational technology teams and field personnel in drills.
• Evaluating exercise performance and documenting lessons learned specific to utility operations.
• Establishing a robust maintenance schedule for BCM plans, infrastructure, and OT systems.
• Integrating lessons learned from actual incidents and tests into ongoing operational resilience enhancements.

CERTIFICATION

• Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with Macskills Training and Development Institute Certificate

TRAINING VENUE

• Training will be held at Macskills Training Centre. We also tailor make the training upon request at different locations across the world.

AIRPORT PICK UP AND ACCOMMODATION

• Airport pick up and accommodation is arranged upon request

TERMS OF PAYMENT

• Payment should be made to Macskills Development Institute bank account before the start of the training and receipts sent to info@macskillsdevelopment.com