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Hans India
19-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
What The Draft Petroleum And Natural Gas Rules, 2025 Aim To Change
India's rapid development is driving a growing demand for energy. This has made Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production (E&P) a high priority for the Government of India. With 90% of the nation's crude oil requirements currently met through imports, advancing domestic efforts has become crucial for achieving energy self-reliance. To accelerate these efforts, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has recently released the Draft Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 2025, which is intended to replace the Oilfields (Regulation and Development), Act 1948 and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 1959. Sharing his insight on the Draft PNG Rules, Advocate Madhur Baya, the Founder of the Mumbai-based LexArbitri, a boutique dispute resolution law firm, said, 'While it is indeed heartening to note that rather than tweaking the Rules yet again to reflect the changed energy sector landscape, the Government has chosen to bring in a grounds-up fresh set of Rules, in my view, there have been as many misses as hits in the Draft.' The draft suggests an authorization for production from all parts of a reservoir, including those extending beyond the geographical boundary of the contract area. This may involve extending or merging lease areas and expanding lease rights to conduct all mineral oil operations across the spectrum of energy hydrocarbons, which is potentially positive. Another welcome step is the push for transparency by making it mandatory for the Government to now provide written reasons for rejecting applications or issuing directions, aligning with international best practices. The draft also promotes environmental safeguards by encouraging in-reservoir sequestration over atmospheric release. On the downside, a key concern is the Government's overreach in redefining contractual terms to align contracts, which risks undermining the objective of improving ease of business in the hydrocarbons sector. 'As well-intentioned as this may be, it could be construed as a veiled attempt to rewrite contracts in a manner that suits the Government,' he added. Another major concern is the mandatory relinquishment of lease areas if a contractor disagrees with the Government-formulated unitization plan. Reflecting on these weak points, he added, 'These misses, in our view, will disincentivize foreign and domestic investments in the sector, as every investor will want certainty that the agreed bargain will not be altered ex post facto, against its interests, and on amorphous grounds.' These concerns are particularly significant considering the capital-intensive nature of the energy sector and the fact that, in India, E&P is largely driven by public players. Increasing production would require greater participation from foreign players to leverage advanced technology and extensive expertise in deepwater and unconventional sources of hydrocarbons. For that, industry-friendly regulations are a must.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
Blast at cracker-manufacturing unit in Muktsar village kills 5 labourers, injures 32
Bathinda: Five labourers were killed and 32 of them were injured in a firecracker unit blast at Singhewala village of Muktsar district near Punjab-Haryana border at around 2am on Friday. The owner of the two-storey unit that was being run without permission has been arrested. The structure of the cracker unit collapsed after an explosion, and nearly 37 migrant labourers working there sustained serious injuries after being buried under the debris. Manufacturing as well as packaging units were being run from a big hall of the industrial unit. Initial investigations indicate that the explosion occurred due to the potash used in manufacturing crackers. Many labourers, mainly from Uttar Pradesh, were sleeping in the cracker unit when the blast occurred and the structure crashed. The labourers did not get any time to react. The injured were taken to various hospitals, mainly Civil Hospital Muktsar, from where some of the seriously injured were taken to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda. "No permission was granted to the manufacturing unit under Explosive Rules, 2008. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cặp EUR/USD: Đà Tăng? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo An application was moved by the owners, but reports from different departments were pending," said Muktsar deputy commissioner Abhijit Kaplish. Muktsar senior superintendent of police Akhil Chaudhary said the police got information around 3am about some mishap at a cracker manufacturing unit at Singhewala village. The police launched a rescue effort, pulling out some of the labourers from under the debris. Five labourers reportedly died while 32 injured workers and were hospitalised. He said a FIR registered under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 118(2) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 3(5) group liability, Section 98 of explosives Act, 1984 and Section 92, of the factories Act 1948 has been registered against owner Tarsem Singh and his son Navraj Singh, and the former has been arrested. Forensic experts are investigating the blast. ——- Politicians meet injured Political leaders made a beeline for AIIMS Bathinda where the injured were admitted. Punjabi agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian inquired about the well-being of the injured and announced that state govt would bear the expenses of the treatment. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal met the injured at AIIMS and demanded compensation for bereaved families and the injured. While demanding a thorough probe into the incident, Sukhbir said action should be taken against those who had allowed the cracker unit to start production without installing statutory safety measures Amrita Warring, the wife of Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring met the injured accompanied by district party president Rajan Garg. MSID:: 121518470 413 |
