| The government will also empower the directorate-general of hydrocarbon (DGH) as a regulator for exploration and production activities with powers to regulate gas prices in terms of production sharing contracts. |
| Senior officials told Business Standard there would be a common appellate tribunal for electricity, petroleum and natural gas. |
| While the Petroleum and Gas Regulatory Board (PGRB) would look into the price of natural gas in the context of provisions relating to restrictive trade practices and transportation charges for use of pipelines, the DGH would look into the pricing of gas in terms of the provisions of production sharing contracts. |
| The PGRB Bill would provide a methodology for the computation of transportation charges in line with the existing provision in the Electricity Act 2003. |
| PGRB would have a chairperson and four members with one member having a legal background. All matters relating to adjudication would be decided by a bench comprising at least two members "" one with a judicial background and another with a technical background. |
| The petroleum ministry is pushing for early clearance for the Bill so that it can be introduced during the winter session of Parliament. PGRB would regulate refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum products and natural gas. |
| Officials said the Bill would introduce open access for common carriers, including contract carriers with surplus capacity. |
| The Bill would also do away with licences for marketing of petroleum products. Companies, which meet the creteria set by the government for entering marketing, may need to only register themselves with the government. |
| Registration would also be required to establish storage facilities for petroleum, petroleum products or natural exceeding capacity specified in the regulations. |
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