PNGRB releases draft amendments to City Gas Distribution Regulations

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PNGRB City Gas Distribution amendments

Highlights

PNGRB published draft amendments to the 2008 regulations for city or local natural gas distribution networks and invited suggestions until November 18, 2026.
The proposed amendments focus on connecting district-level steel pipeline infrastructure and reducing disparities in city gas distribution network coverage.
The draft regulations will facilitate clean energy adoption while further clarifying technical, safety, and operational standards in the CGD sector.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

Draft amendments and consultation process

According to the public notice issued by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, the regulator has prepared draft amendments and new provisions following a review of the PNGRB (Authorizing Entities to Lay, Build, Operate or Expand City or Local Natural Gas Distribution Networks) Regulations, 2008. The draft, “PNGRB (Authorizing Entities to Lay, Build, Operate or Expand City or Local Natural Gas Distribution Networks) Amendment Regulations, 2026”, has been introduced to update the existing provisions in line with prevailing requirements.

The proposed changes include adding new sub-regulations after sub-regulation (3) of Regulation 9, amending the existing provision under Regulation 12(2), inserting a new sub-regulation (3) after sub-regulation (2) in Regulation 12, and adding a new sub-regulation before sub-regulation (1) in Regulation 14. The Board has sought feedback from stakeholders and the general public on these draft regulations.

Comments may be submitted by email to secretary@pngrb.gov.in or sent in writing by post to the Secretary, PNGRB. Suggestions have been invited within 30 days from the date of the public notice, i.e., by November 18, 2026.

Impact on gas infrastructure and clean energy

The initiative is seen as a step toward creating a more uniform framework for infrastructure expansion in the city gas distribution sector, particularly in areas where expanding pipeline connectivity remains a priority. The emphasis on connecting every district with steel pipeline infrastructure indicates that the regulator aims to reduce disparities in network coverage.

More broadly, the proposed amendments aim to facilitate the adoption of clean energy solutions while keeping safety and network integrity at the heart of the regulatory framework. This could provide greater clarity on compliance, expansion planning, and operational standards for entities operating in the CGD sector going forward.

Our previous report discussed PNGRB's conditional expansion of the permitted use of MLC (multilayer composite) pipes in city gas distribution (CGD) networks up to the upstream side of consumer meters. The article noted that this approval is linked to compliance with stringent safety, installation, testing, and third-party inspection standards, which also clearly increase the design, maintenance, and compliance obligations of CGD companies.

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