New Delhi: Former Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, a 1982-batch IAS officer of the Jharkhand cadre, has called for stronger regulatory institutions, market-oriented reforms and greater domestic energy capacity as India prepares for rising energy demand and an evolving global energy environment.
Addressing the 20th Foundation Day of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) on October 1, Gauba said regulation must keep pace with technological changes and new business models while maintaining safety and consumer protection.
Gauba Traces India’s Shift Towards Market-Based Energy Regulation
Gauba outlined the evolution of India’s petroleum and natural gas sector from state-controlled operations and administered pricing to greater liberalisation from the late 1990s.
He said the creation of PNGRB in 2006 marked an important institutional development aimed at promoting fair competition, investor confidence and consumer interests.
Gauba also highlighted PNGRB’s regulatory framework for natural gas pipelines, particularly its common-carrier and contract-carrier principles, which provide for open access to pipeline infrastructure.
Domestic Exploration and Gas Infrastructure Identified as Priorities
With energy demand expected to increase alongside urbanisation and industrialisation, Gauba stressed the need to expand domestic energy capacity.
He called for faster exploration and production, particularly in frontier and deep-water areas, supported by technology, private investment and the capabilities of public-sector enterprises.
He also highlighted the need to accelerate India’s transition towards a gas-based economy by strengthening the National Gas Grid, improving the utilisation of pipelines and LNG terminals, and expanding the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network.
PNGRB Asked to Prepare for Hydrogen, Syngas and CO₂ Pipelines
Gauba said regulatory reforms should reduce unnecessary procedural friction and adapt to emerging areas of the energy sector.
He specifically identified hydrogen, syngas and carbon dioxide pipelines as areas where the regulatory framework would need to evolve alongside technological developments and new business models.
He also highlighted regulatory predictability and ease of doing business as important principles for PNGRB.
Regulatory Independence to Be Matched With Accountability
Gauba said regulatory independence should be accompanied by transparency, reasoned decision-making and accountability.
He called for regulators to function at arm’s length while remaining aligned with broader national policy objectives. He also stressed that safety and consumer protection should remain central as the sector adopts new technologies and business models.
The Foundation Day event comes as India seeks to expand and diversify its energy system while responding to geopolitical uncertainties, supply disruptions and the longer-term growth in domestic energy demand.
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