law: The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006
  2. Definitions.-
  In this Act, unless
  
  the context otherwise requires,-
  
  
   i. 
  
    "affiliate
  
  code of conduct" means the code of conduct governing entities engaged in
  
  storage, transmission, distribution, marketing and sale of natural gas under
  
  sub-section (1) of section 21;
  
  
   ii. 
  
    "Appellate
  
  Tribunal" means the Appellate Tribunal referred to in section 30;
  
  
   iii. 
  
    "appointed
  
  day" means the date on which the Board is established under sub-section
  
  (1) of section 3;
  
  
   iv. 
  
    "authorised
  
  entity" means an entity-
  A.  registrered by the
  
  Board under section 15 -
  
  
   i. 
  
    to
  
  market any notified petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas, or
  to
  
  establish and operate liquefied natural gas terminals, or
  A. 
  
  
  B.  authorised by the
  
  Board under section 16 -
  
  
   i. 
  
    to
  
  lay, build, operate or expand a common carrier or contract carrier, or
  
  
   ii. 
  
  
  
    to
  
  lay, build, operate or expand a city or local natural gas distribution network;
  a. 
  
  
  b. 
  
  
  c. 
  
  
  d. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
   i. 
  
  
  
  
   ii. 
  
  
  
  
   iii. 
  
  
  
  
   iv. 
  
  
  
  
   v. 
  
    auto
  
  liquefied petroleum gas" means a mixture of certain light hydrocarbons
  
  derived from petroleum, which are gaseous at normal ambient temperature and atmospheric
  
  pressure but may be condensed to the liquid state at normal ambient temperature
  
  by the application of moderate pressure, and which conform to such
  
  specifications for use as fuel in vehicles, as the Central Government may, in
  
  consultation with the Bureau of Indian Standards, notify from time to time;
  
  
   vi. 
  
    ''Board"
  
  
  
  means the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board established under
  
  sub-section (1) of section 3;
  vii. 
  
    "Bureau
  
  of Indian Standards" means the Bureau of Indian Standards established
  
  under section 3 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 (63 of 1986);
  viii. 
  
    "Chairperson"
  
  means the Chairperson of the Board appointed under sub-section (1) of section
  
  4;
  
  
   ix. 
  
    "city
  
  or local natural gas distribution network" means an inter-connected
  
  network of gas pipelines and the associated equipment used for transporting
  
  natural gas from a bulk supply high pressure transmission main to the medium
  
  pressure distribution grid and subsequently to the service pipes supplying
  
  natural gas to domestic, industrial or commercial premises and CNG stations
  
  situated in a specified geographical area. Explanation.-For the purposes of
  
  this clause, the expressions "high pressure" and "medium
  
  pressure" shall mean such pressure as the Central Government may, by
  
  notification, specify to be high pressure or, as the case may be, medium
  
  pressure;
  
  
   x. 
  
  
  
    "common
  
  carrier" means such pipelines for transportation of petroleum, petroleum
  
  products and natural gas by more than one entity as the Board may declare or
  
  authorise from time to time on a non-discriminatory open access basis under
  
  sub-section (3) of section 20, but does not include pipelines laid to supply-
  
  
   i. 
  
    petroleum
  
  products or natural gas to a specific consumer; or
  crude
  
  oil; Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause, a contract carrier shall be
  
  treated as a common carrier, if -
  
  
   i. 
  
    such
  
  contract carrier has surplus capacity over and above the firm contracts entered
  
  into; or
  
  
   ii. 
  
    the
  
  firm contract period has expired.
  a. 
  
  
  b. 
  
  
  
  
  c. 
  
  
  d. 
  
  
  e. 
  
  
  f. 
  
  
  g. 
  
  
  h. 
  
  
  i. 
  
  
  j. 
  
  
  
  
   i. 
  
  
  
  
   ii. 
  
  
  
  
   iii. 
  
  
  
  
   iv. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
   v. 
  
  
  
  
   vi. 
  
  
  
  
   vii. 
  
  
  
  
   viii. 
  
  
  
  
   ix. 
  
  
  
  
   x. 
  
  
  
  
   xi. 
  
  
  
    "CNG
  
  station" means filling station where one or more dispensing units are
  
  provided for sale of compressed natural gas;
  xii. 
  
    "compressed
  
  natural gas or CNG" means natural gas used as fuel for vehicles, typically
  
  compressed to the pressure ranging from 200 to 250 bars in the gaseous state;
  xiii. 
  
    "contract
  
  carrier" means such pipelines for transportation of petroleum, petroleum
  
  products and natural gas by more than one entity pursuant to firm contracts for
  
  at least one year as may be declared or authorised by the Board from time to
  
  time under sub-section (3) of section 20;
  xiv. 
  
    "dealer"
  
  means a person, association of persons, firm, company or co-operative society,
  
  by whatsoever name called or referred to, and appointed by an oil company to
  
  purchase, receive, store and sell motor spirit, high speed diesel, superior
  
  kerosene oil, auto liquefied petroleum gas or natural gas;
  xv. 
  
    "distributor"
  
  means a person, association of persons, firm, company or co-operative society,
  
  by whatsoever name called or referred to, and appointed by an oil company to
  
  purchase, receive, store and sell to consumers liquefied petroleum gas in
  
  cylinders;
  xvi. 
  
    "entity"
  
  means a person, association of persons, firm, company or co-operative society,
  
  by whatsoever name called or referred to, other than a dealer or distributor,
  
  and engaged or intending to be engaged in refining, processing, storage,
  
  transportation, distribution, marketing, import and export of petroleum,
  
  petroleum products and natural gas including laying of pipelines for
  
  transportation of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas, or laying,
  
  building, operating or expanding city or local natural gas distribution network
  
  or establishing and operating a liquefied natural gas terminal;
  xvii. 
  
    "exchange
  
  of products" shall mean giving and receiving of a petroleum product in
  
  accordance with an agreement entered into by the concerned entities;
  xviii. 
  
  
  
    "high
  
  speed diesel" means any hydrocarbon oil (excluding mineral colza oil and
  
  turpentine substitute), which conforms to such specifications for use as fuel
  
  in compression ignition engines, as the Central Government may, in consultation
  
  with the Bureau of Indian Standards, notify from time to time;
  xix. 
  
    "kerosene
  
  or superior kerosene oil" means a middle distillate mixture of
  
  hydrocarbons which conforms to such specifications, as the Central Government
  
  may, in consultation with the Bureau of Indian Standards, notify from time to
  
  time;
  xx. 
  
    "liquefied
  
  natural gas terminal" means the facilities and infrastructure required to-
  
  
   i. 
  
    receive
  
  liquefied natural gas;
  store
  
  liquefied natural gas;
  
  
   iii. 
  
    enable
  
  regasification of liquefied natural gas; and(iv) transport regasified liquefied
  
  natural gas till the outside boundaries of the facility;
  a. 
  
  
  b. 
  
  
  c. 
  
  
  d. 
  
  
  e. 
  
  
  f. 
  
  
  g. 
  
  
  h. 
  
  
  i. 
  
  
  
  
  j. 
  
  
  k. 
  
  
  l. 
  
  
  m. 
  
  
  n. 
  
  
  o. 
  
  
  p. 
  
  
  q. 
  
  
  r. 
  
  
  s. 
  
  
  t. 
  
  
  i. 
  
  
  ii. 
  
  
  iii. 
  
  
  iv. 
  
  
  v. 
  
  
  
  
  vi. 
  
  
  vii. 
  
  
  viii. 
  
  
  ix. 
  
  
  x. 
  
  
  xi. 
  
  
  xii. 
  
  
  
  
  xiii. 
  
  
  xiv. 
  
  
  xv. 
  
  
  xvi. 
  
  
  xvii. 
  
  
  xviii. 
  
  
  xix. 
  
  
  
  
  xx. 
  
  
  xxi. 
  
    "liquefied
  
  petroleum gas" means a mixture of light hydrocarbons containing propane,
  
  isobutane, normal butane, butylenes, or such other substance which is gaseous
  
  at normal ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure but may be condensed to
  
  liquid state at normal ambient temperature by the application of pressure and
  
  conforms to such specifications, as the Central Government may, in consultation
  
  with the Bureau of Indian Standards, notify from time to time;
  xxii. 
  
  
  
    "local
  
  distribution entity" means an entity authorised by the Board under section
  
  20 to lay, build, operate or expand a city or local natural gas distribution
  
  network;
  xxiii. 
  
    "marketing
  
  service obligations" means obligations-
  
  
   i. 
  
    to
  
  set up marketing infrastructure and retail outlets in remote areas in respect
  
  of notified petroleum and petroleum products;
  to
  
  maintain minimum stock of notified petroleum and petroleum products;
  
  
   iii. 
  
    of
  
  a local distribution entity to supply natural gas to consumers; and
  
  
   iv. 
  
    such
  
  other obligations as may be specified by regulations;
  a. 
  
  
  b. 
  
  
  c. 
  
  
  d. 
  
  
  e. 
  
  
  f. 
  
  
  g. 
  
  
  h. 
  
  
  i. 
  
  
  
  
  j. 
  
  
  k. 
  
  
  l. 
  
  
  m. 
  
  
  n. 
  
  
  o. 
  
  
  p. 
  
  
  q. 
  
  
  r. 
  
  
  s. 
  
  
  t. 
  
  
  u. 
  
  
  v. 
  
  
  
  
  w. 
  
  
  i. 
  
  
  ii. 
  
  
  iii. 
  
  
  iv. 
  
  
  v. 
  
  
  vi. 
  
  
  vii. 
  
  
  viii. 
  
  
  ix. 
  
  
  x. 
  
  
  xi. 
  
  
  xii. 
  
  
  
  
  xiii. 
  
  
  xiv. 
  
  
  xv. 
  
  
  xvi. 
  
  
  xvii. 
  
  
  xviii. 
  
  
  xix. 
  
  
  xx. 
  
  
  xxi. 
  
  
  xxii. 
  
  
  xxiii. 
  
  
  xxiv. 
  
    "maximum
  
  retail price" means the maximum price fixed by an entity at which the
  
  petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas may be sold to the retail
  
  consumers and includes all taxes, cess and levies, local or otherwise and
  
  freight or commission payable to the dealers;
  xxv. 
  
    "member"
  
  means a member of the Board appointed under sub-section (1) of section 4 and
  
  includes the Member (Legal) and the Chairperson;
  xxvi. 
  
    "motor
  
  spirit" means any hydrocarbon oil (excluding crude mineral oil) used as
  
  fuel in spark ignition engines which conforms to such specifications, as the
  
  Central Government may, in consultation with the Bureau of Indian Standards,
  
  notify from time to time;
  xxvii. 
  
  
  
    "natural
  
  gas" means gas obtained from bore-holes and consisting primarily of
  
  hydrocarbons and includes-
  
  
   i. 
  
    gas
  
  in liquid state, namely, liquefied natural gas and regasified liquefied natural
  
  gas,
  compressed
  
  natural gas,
  
  
   iii. 
  
    gas
  
  imported through transnational pipe lines, including CNG or liquefied natural
  
  gas,
  
  
   iv. 
  
    gas
  
  recovered from gas hydrates as natural gas,
  
  
   v. 
  
    methane
  
  obtained from coal seams, namely, coal bed methane, but does not include helium
  
  occurring in association with such hydrocarbons;
  i. 
  
  
  ii. 
  
  
  iii. 
  
  
  iv. 
  
  
  v. 
  
  
  vi. 
  
  
  vii. 
  
  
  viii. 
  
  
  ix. 
  
  
  
  
  x. 
  
  
  xi. 
  
  
  xii. 
  
  
  xiii. 
  
  
  xiv. 
  
  
  xv. 
  
  
  xvi. 
  
  
  xvii. 
  
  
  xviii. 
  
  
  xix. 
  
  
  xx. 
  
  
  xxi. 
  
  
  xxii. 
  
  
  
  
  xxiii. 
  
  
  xxiv. 
  
  
  xxv. 
  
  
  xxvi. 
  
  
  xxvii. 
  
  
  xxviii. 
  
    "notification"
  
  means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expression "notified"
  
  with its cognate meanings and grammatical variations, shall be construed
  
  accordingly;
  xxix. 
  
  
  
    "notified
  
  petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas" means such petroleum,
  
  petroleum products and natural gas as the Central Government may notify from
  
  time to time, after being satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do
  
  for maintaining or increasing their supplies or for securing their equitable
  
  distribution or ensuring adequate availability;
  xxx. 
  
    "oil
  
  company" means a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 and
  
  includes an association of persons, society or firm, by whatsoever name called
  
  or referred to, for carrying out an activity relating to petroleum, petroleum
  
  products and natural gas;
  xxxi. 
  
    "petroleum"
  
  means any liquid hydrocarbon or mixture of hydrocarbons, and any inflammable
  
  mixture (liquid, viscous or solid) containing any liquid hydrocarbon, including
  
  crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas, and the expression 'petroleum product'
  
  shall mean any product manufactured from petroleum;
  xxxii. 
  
    "pipeline
  
  access code" means the code to establish a framework for third party
  
  access to pipelines under sub-clause (i) of clause (e) of section 11;
  xxxiii. 
  
    "prescribed"
  
  means prescribed by rules made by the Central Government under this Act;
  xxxiv. 
  
  
  
    "regulations"
  
  means regulations made by the Board under this Act;
  xxxv. 
  
    "restrictive
  
  trade practice" means a trade practice which has, or may have, the effect
  
  of preventing, distorting or restricting competition in any manner and in
  
  particular,-
  a.  which tends to
  
  obstruct the flow of capital or resources into the stream of production, or
  b.  which tends to bring
  
  about manipulation of prices, or conditions of delivery or to affect the flow
  
  of supplies in the market relating to petroleum, petroleum products or natural
  
  gas or services in such manner as to impose on the consumers unjustified costs
  
  or restrictions;
  i. 
  
  
  ii. 
  
  
  iii. 
  
  
  iv. 
  
  
  v. 
  
  
  vi. 
  
  
  vii. 
  
  
  viii. 
  
  
  
  
  ix. 
  
  
  x. 
  
  
  xi. 
  
  
  xii. 
  
  
  xiii. 
  
  
  xiv. 
  
  
  xv. 
  
  
  xvi. 
  
  
  xvii. 
  
  
  xviii. 
  
  
  xix. 
  
  
  xx. 
  
  
  xxi. 
  
  
  
  
  xxii. 
  
  
  xxiii. 
  
  
  xxiv. 
  
  
  xxv. 
  
  
  xxvi. 
  
  
  xxvii. 
  
  
  xxviii. 
  
  
  xxix. 
  
  
  xxx. 
  
  
  xxxi. 
  
  
  xxxii. 
  
  
  xxxiii. 
  
  
  xxxiv. 
  
  
  
  
  xxxv. 
  
  
  xxxvi. 
  
    "retail
  
  outlet" means filling station where one or more dispensing pumps have been
  
  provided for sale of motor spirit, high speed diesel, auto-liquefied petroleum
  
  gas or natural gas and includes distributorship for liquefied petroleum gas or
  
  dealership for superior kerosene oil or CNG stations;
  xxxvii. 
  
    "retail
  
  service obligations" means obligations of dealers and distributors for
  
  maintaining supplies to consumers throughout the specified working hours and of
  
  specified quality, quantity and display of maximum retail price of notified
  
  petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas including CNG and such other
  
  obligations, as may be specified by regulations;
  xxxviii. 
  
    "rules"
  
  means rules made by the Central Government under this Act;
  xxxix. 
  
    "Secretary"
  
  means the Secretary of the Board;
  
  
   xl. 
  
  
  
    "transportation
  
  rate", in relation to common carrier or contract carrier or a city or
  
  local natural gas distribution network, means such rate for moving each unit of
  
  petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas as may be fixed by regulations.