The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has stated that the compressed natural gas (CNG) stations anchored on petrol pumps will not be open to third party hiring. Further, the oil marketing companies, such as Indian Oil Corporation Limited will be barred from setting up their own CNG dispensing units in their petrol pumps.
PNGRB has notified the final regulations, governing open access for city gas distribution networks whose marketing exclusivity period has ended. Accordingly, after the expiry of exclusivity period, which is of minimum five years, third parties can access pipelines that carry gas within a city as well as district regulatory stations for a fee. However, the CNG compression- and dispensation-related equipment and facilities will not be shared or be a part of common infrastructure.