(a) whether the Government has evolved a policy to regulate long distance pipelines;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether this policy will cover existing pipelines or not; and
(d) if not, the steps taken to impose a uniform policy to regulate long distance pipelines?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRIMATI SUMITRA MAHAJAN)
(a) to (d): The Government has notified guidelines for laying petroleum product pipelines
vide notification F.No.P-20012/5/99-PP dated 20.11.2002. These guidelines categorize the pipelines
and inter-alia cover the issues of `ownership and access`, `tariff` etc. The guidelines provide
for at least 25% additional capacity over and above the requirement of the proposer for use by
any other industry player under common usage.
These guidelines will remain in force till the Petroleum Regulatory Board is established
by an Act of Parliament. The proposed Board will regulate new as well as existing pipelines,
which have been declared to be common carrier.