Gas Sector Reform or Power Grab? PNGRB’s LNG Papers Explained
India’s gas sector may be on the brink of change. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) hasn’t issued new LNG regulations, but its latest analytical papers are drawing serious attention.
While no formal rules have been announced, the documents suggest a shift in focus toward LNG regasification, pricing, transparency, and downstream delivery.
What PNGRB Is Looking At
Paper 1:
LNG regasification capacity vs actual utilisation
Pricing behaviour despite weak demand
Financial outcomes at key LNG nodes
Paper 2:
Downstream logistics and trucking vs pipeline economics
How infrastructure sequencing affects delivered gas costs
Both papers highlight a shared concern: market outcomes are not aligning with policy intent, even after years of capacity growth.
Key Takeaways
1️⃣ LNG Regasification Under Scrutiny Low utilisation, firm charges, and resilient returns suggest PNGRB may treat terminals as outcome-sensitive infrastructure, not just commercial ventures.
2️⃣ Regas & Truck-Loading Charges Could See Oversight Fees that remain unregulated are affecting delivered gas prices and demand — signalling potential future regulation or tighter scrutiny.
3️⃣ Transparency First Opaque pricing, unclear escalation, and limited cost visibility point toward mandatory disclosure — often the first step before regulation.
4️⃣ APM Allocation Distortions Subsidised APM gas interacting with market-priced LNG creates margin insulation and pricing distortions, hinting at a need to rethink allocation rules.
Why the Industry Is Watching Closely
The analysis itself isn’t controversial — but where it might lead is.
If LNG terminals are treated as infrastructure rather than entrepreneurial ventures, pricing freedom, expected returns, and investment logic could change.
PNGRB hasn’t acted yet — but the line is clear.
Bottom Line
No new rules have been announced. But one thing is clear: LNG terminal economics are now in PNGRB’s regulatory sight.
The next steps will determine whether this is a phase of scrutiny or the start of a more interventionist regime.
Source: Exclusive insights from Indian PetroPlus
