The Hindu Business Line : Deora to hold meeting on gas pipeline policy

The Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Murli Deora, has called for a meeting of various stakeholders to discuss the draft Policy for Development of Natural Gas Pipelines and City or Local Natural Gas Distribution Networks on Monday in Mumbai.

The issues likely to be discussed in the meeting include — applicability, grant of authorisation, exclusivity, bid bond and performance bond, conditions under ROU acquisition, unbundling of operation, gas grid connectivity, technical and HSE (Health Safety and Environment) Standards, and role of State Governments.

According to an official communiqué, CEOs of various companies, organisations and institutions have been invited to attend the same. These include, among others, Exxon Mobil, BG, Shell, Reliance Industries, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, TERI, BP (India), Oil PSUs, and Planning Commission.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has been in the process of formulating a Policy for Development of Natural Gas Pipelines and City or Local Natural Gas Distribution Networks. The objective of the draft policy is to promote investment from public as well as private sector in natural gas pipeline and city and local natural gas distribution networks. The policy will be finalised after ascertaining the views of the participants.

The draft policy aims at facilitating open access for all players to the pipeline network on a non-discriminatory basis and promoting competition among entities, thereby avoiding any abuse of the dominant position by any entity. The main thrust of the policy is to secure consumer interest in terms of gas availability and reasonable tariff. It is envisaged that the policy would facilitate the laying of gas pipelines and city gas distribution networks, which would help in making available natural gas to different parts of the country.