Section 19 in The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (Authorizing Entities to Lay, Build, Operate or Expand Natural Gas Pipelines) Regulations, 2008
19. Provisions relating to dedicated pipelines for transport of natural gas.
(1)In respect of dedicated pipelines existing before the appointed day, the following provisions shall apply, namely:-(a)entity having dedicated pipeline to transport natural gas to a specific customer before the appointed day shall submit details of the pipeline length, route, capacity and customers served along with the DFR of the project to the Board within thirty days of notification of these regulations;(b)Board may web-host details of dedicated pipeline seeking comments of general public with a view to ascertain whether such pipeline needs to be converted into natural gas pipeline in public interest;(c)The Board may, based on the examination of the comments received, direct the entity to convert such pipeline into natural gas pipeline in overall public interest:Provided that the entity shall be given an opportunity to present its case;(d)The entity may also submit its proposal to convert its dedicated pipeline into natural gas pipeline to the Board alongwith complete details and justifications and the Board may web-host details of dedicated pipeline seeking comments of general public with a view to ascertain whether such pipeline needs to be converted into natural gas pipeline in public interest and the Board may, based on the examination of the comments received and in overall public interest, issue grant of authorization to the entity for conversion into a natural gas pipeline.(2)In respect of dedicated pipelines proposed to be laid, built, operated or expanded after the appointed day, following provisions shall apply, namely:-(a)the entity proposing to lay, build, operate or expand a dedicated pipeline to transport natural gas to a specific customer after the appointed day shall submit details on pipeline length, route, capacity and details of the customers served along with the DFR of the project to the Board at least thirty days before the proposed commencement of laying and building of the dedicated pipeline;(b)Board may web-host details of the proposed dedicated pipeline seeking comments of general public with a view to ascertain whether, instead of a dedicated pipeline, the public interest would be better served if a natural gas pipeline is laid, built, operated or expanded;(c)in case, based on the examination of the comments received, the Board is of the view that instead of a dedicated pipeline natural gas pipeline would better serve the public purpose it may advise the entity appropriately within thirty days of the receipt of the information from the entity;(d)in case, despite receiving the advice from the Board under clause (c), the entity still wishes to lay, build, operate or expand a dedicated pipeline, it may do so:Provided that simultaneous to the entity building a dedicated pipeline, the Board may, on suo-motu basis, decide to issue an expression of interest for laying, building, operating or expanding a natural gas pipeline:Provided further that the entity shall not be allowed to apply to the Board for conversion of its dedicated pipeline into a natural gas pipeline for a period of five years from the date of the commissioning of its dedicated pipeline;(e)any entity laying, building, operating or expanding a dedicated pipeline for which no advice has been issued by Board under clause (c) may apply to the Board at any time for converting it into natural gas pipeline and the Board may decide to authorize the entity for such conversion in line with the procedure under clause (d) of sub-regulation (1) and the moratorium period restriction of five years specified under clause (d) shall not be applicable in such case;(f)the Board may, in respect of a dedicated pipeline laid, built, operated or expanded after the appointed day, direct the entity to convert dedicated pipeline into natural gas pipeline as per the following procedure, namely:-(i)the Board may web-host details of dedicated pipeline seeking comments of general public with a view to ascertain whether such pipeline needs to be converted into natural gas pipeline in public interest:(ii)the Board may, based on the examination of the comments received, direct the entity to convert such pipeline into natural gas pipeline in overall public interest:Provided that the entity shall be given an opportunity to present its case.(3)In case a dedicated pipeline is converted into a natural gas pipeline under sub-regulations (1) or (2), the provisions under the sub-regulation (9) of regulation 18 shall apply to such pipeline.
