About Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB):
- It is a statutory body established under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act 2006.
- Objective: To protect the interests of consumers and entities engaged in specified activities relating to petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas and to promote competitive markets and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
- It has also been mandated to regulate the refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing, and sale of petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas, excluding the production of crude oil and natural gas, so as to ensure an uninterrupted and adequate supply of petroleum, petroleum products, and natural gas in all parts of the country.
- PNGRB authorises the city gas distribution (CGD) networks, natural gas and petroleum product pipelines, determines tariffs, lays down the technical and safety standards,
- Entities required to comply with PNGRB regulations include:
- Natural Gas Pipelines & Petroleum Product Pipelines.
- City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks.
- Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage, transportation, and regasification.
- Petroleum and gas marketing.
- Refineries and storage terminals.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
- The Board has its seat in Delhi.
- The board consists of the following members appointed by the Central Government:
- Chairperson
- Member (Legal)
- Three other members
- Power of the Board:
- The Board is empowered to adjudicate and decide any dispute or matter among the entities.
- The Board, on receiving any complaint from any person, is empowered to conduct an inquiry and investigation.
- The Board can pass any order or issue any direction or refer the matter for investigation as it thinks fit.
- The Board has similar powers as given to the Civil Court under the Civil Procedure Code, 1908.
- The Board is subjected to the principles of natural justice and the provisions of the Act.
