OGRA to amend its rules for grant of LPG Auto Refueling Stations : NA Standing Committee

Lahore : Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources has directed Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to amend its rules for grant of LPG Auto Refueling Stations. The Committee passed on these direction in wake of reported issuance of license to CNG stations by OGRA for conversion into LPG Refueling Stations which were defaulters of Gas distribution Companies i.e. SNGPL and SSGCL. The Committee met under the chairmanship of Ch. Bilal Ahmed Virk, MNA in Islamabad this morning.

The Representative of OGRA apprised the Committee that CNG and LPG sectors were being dealt by separate set of OGRA Rules and no such provision was available in the said rules wherein operations of LPG Auto Refueling station at existing CNG stations is linked to clearance for gas utility companies. He said that rules could be amended in that regard besides obtaining an undertaking from the applicant that the company was not defaulter of any utility company.

The Committee directed OGRA for instant amendment in rules to ensure defaulters of Utility Companies remain out of business. The Committee was of the view that rules should be amended to ensure defaulter CNG stations do not get permission to convert to LPG Refueling stations. The committee also decided for taking up the Social Welfare guidelines for E&P companies issued by DGPC for discussion in its next meeting. The committee pended the other agenda till its next meeting.

The Minister for Petroleum informed the Committee that OGDCL and other exploratory companies have 6 discoveries in month of June with estimation of 50.1 million cubic feet of gas and 3259 barrels of oil per day. He said that these discoveries would be supplementing the efforts of the government to meet energy requirements in the country.

 The meeting was attended by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, MNAs; Muhammad Arshad Khan Laghari, Malik Aitbar Khan, Mian Tariq Mehmood, Rana Muhammad Ishaq Khan, Rasheed Ahmad Khan, Nasir Khan Khattak, Abdul Waseem, Sajid Ahmed, Secretary M/o P&NR and Senior Officers of the concerned departments.