(a) whether the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is functioning properly in the country and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether PNGRB is regulating refining, transport and marketing of petroleum products in the country and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether PNGRB ensures adequate supply of petroleum products in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the role of PNGRB in fixing the prices of petroleum products in the country?
MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
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(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.190 ASKED BY SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE, MP REGARDING PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS REGULATORY BOARD TO BE ANSWERED ON JANUARY 01, 2018 (a): Yes, Madam. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is functioning properly with its Chairman and three Members (two Members and one Member–Legal). PNGRB has granted authorization for 78 numbers of City Gas Distribution (CGD) Network, 55 numbers of Natural Gas Pipelines and 17 numbers of Petroleum Product pipelines. Further, PNGRB has notified total 29 numbers of regulations with respect to authorizations, safety, technical standards, tariff etc., pertains to CGD Network, Natural Gas Pipeline and Petroleum Products Pipeline. (b) & (c): PNGRB is regulating transportation of petroleum products by pipelines. PNGRB has granted authorizations for 17 numbers of petroleum product pipelines for transportation of petroleum products in the country. PNGRB does not regulate refining and marketing of the petroleum products in the country. (d): The prices of Petrol and Diesel have been made market determined by the Government effective from 26th June, 2010 and 19th October, 2014 respectively and since then their prices are being decided by the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in line with the changes in the international market prices. The Government continues to modulate the effective price to consumer for Subsidized Domestic LPG and Retail Selling Price (RSP) of PDS Kerosene. With regard to pricing of natural gas, Government of India has notified the New Domestic Natural Gas Pricing Guidelines 2014. The price of domestically produced gas determined under said guidelines is linked with global gas markets viz. Henry Hub (HH), National Balancing Point (NBP), Alberta Hub and Russia. Through the New Gas Pricing Guidelines 2014, Government has tried to maintain a fine balance between the interest of gas producing and consuming sectors. *****