Petroleum & Natural Gas tO 

Regulatory Board, India 

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE FEDERAL 

ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION AND THE PETROLEUM & 

NATURAL GAS REGULATORY BOARD, INDIA REGARDING THE 

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION, CONSULTATION, TRAINING AND 

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") and the Petroleum 

and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, India ("PNGRB") (collectively, "the 

Authorities"), sharing the goal of building and maintaining open, fair, efficient 

and sound oil and natural gas markets, recognizing that the development of 

effective domestic legal and regulatory structures is essential to market 

integrity, consumer protection and investment promotion, believing that 

international cooperation can facilitate the growth of best regulatory practices in 

the oil and natural gas sectors across different countries in the world, and 

desiring to establish a mutually acceptable basis for the exchange of information, 

consultation, training and technical assistance, 

HAVE REACHED the following understanding: 

I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES 

1. PNGRB was established as a statutory body on the Pt of October, 2007 

under an Act of the Parliament of India. The PNGRB is required to regulate 
the refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing, 

and sale of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas, excluding the 

production of crude and natural gas, so as to protect the interests of 

consumers and entities and to ensure uninterrupted and adequate supply in 

all parts of the country and to promote competitive markets. 

2. FERC's jurisdictional activities with regard to oil and natural gas include 

reviewing applications for the construction and operation of facilities to 

import and export natural gas; issuing certificates of public convenience 

and necessity for the construction and operation of interstate natural gas 

pipelines and storage; overseeing the rates, terms and conditions of 

transportation and of certain sales for resale of natural gas in interstate 

commerce; and approving the rates, terms and conditions of transportation 

services provided by interstate oil pipelines. 

3. The Authorities recognize the need and desirability of sharing regulatory 

expertise and practices, as set forth in Clauses II, III, and IV, with each 

other pursuant to this Memorandum of Understanding. 

4. This Memorandum of Understanding regarding exchange of information, 

consultation, training and technical assistance with respect to the oil and 

natural gas sectors within the Authorities' regulatory jurisdiction describes 

the intent of the Authorities. It is not legally binding, and does not create 

legally binding obligations under international law or domestic law, and 

neither Authority is expected to take any action that would be inconsistent 

with applicable laws, regulations, and policy directives. Unless otherwise 

decided, each Authority intends to bear its own costs incurred as a result of 

participation in any activities that may be taken hereunder. 

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H. EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND CONSULTATION 

5. The Authorities intend to share information on each other's laws, rules, and 

regulations relating to the oil and natural gas sectors and their experiences 

in regulating these sectors with a view to learning about the best practices 

and promoting development of competitive markets in their respective 

countries. Where appropriate, the Authorities expect to make a reasonable 

effort to identify and facilitate contact with other governmental agencies 

in their respective countries of operation to provide requested information 

to each other pursuant to this Memorandum of Understanding. 

6. The Authorities believe that it would be of help to consult each other on a 

regular basis especially on matters relating to the development of 

competitive markets in the oil and natural gas sectors, promotion of 

investment in the sector, and protection of consumer interests. Such 

consultations could be on a formal or informal basis and could be through 

different modes including e-mail, tele-conferencing, meetings, etc. The 

forms of cooperation may also include assignment of personnel for jointlydetermined periods of time from one Authority to the other for participating 

in workshops, meetings, research activities, projects, etc. 

III. TRAINING 

7. The Authorities may impart training to personnel from the other Authority, 

as per request and feasibility, in their offices or in training facilities 

available to them. 
IV. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 

8. Either Authority may seek technical assistance from the other Authority 

with a view to improving one's technical capabilities on regulatory issues. 

Such issues may, inter alia, include: 

(i) Development of a regulatory framework for the promotion of fair 

trade and competitive markets in the interests of the entities and 

consumers; 

(ii) Guidelines for regulating open access to common carrier or 

contract carrier gas/petroleum-product pipelines as applicable; and 

(iii) Development of tariffs for transportation for natural gas and oil 

pipelines. 

V. OFFICIAL CONTACTS 

9. To further ensure the effective operation of this Memorandum of 

Understanding and to facilitate communication between the Authorities, 

the Authorities hereby designate the following contact officials: 

For The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board: 

Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, 1st Floor, World Trade Centre, 

Babar Road, 

New Delhi 110001. India 

[Name] Ms Vandana Sharma 

Phone: [number] +91 11 23709142 

Email: [email] secretary@pngrb.gov.in 
D K Sarraf 

Chairperson 

1 Chatterjee 

hairman 

For the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: 

U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 

888 First St. N.E., 

Washington, DC 20426. U.S.A. 

[Name] Cameron Schilling 

Phone: [number] +1 202-502-6717 

Email: [email] cameron.schilling@ferc.gov 

VI. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DISCONTINUATION 

10. This Memorandum of Understanding is effective from the date of its 

signing by the Authorities and is intended to remain effective until 

discontinued by either Authority as provided for in Paragraph 11. 

11. Either Authority may discontinue activities under this Memorandum of 

Understanding at any time for any reason but should endeavor to give 

ninety days' advance written notice of its intent to do so to the other 

Authority. 

Signed this day of 2019 at 

FOR U. S. Federal Energy FOR Petroleum and Natural 

Regul7t ry Commission Gas Regulatory Board, India