ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has made significant progress during financial year 2018-2019 towards fostering the objectives of its establishment, said Chairperson OGRA Uzma Adil, in a statement, on the occasion of release of annual report for financial year 2018-2019. During current financial year, the OGRA has granted a license to Inter-State Gas Systems (ISGS) Limited for the construction and operation of natural gas pipeline projects, i.e. Cross-Country Pipelines and North South Gas Pipeline Projects (NSGP).
During the period under review, the OGRA granted a license for construction of a new oil refinery (Khyber Oil Refinery) with the capacity of 20,000 barrels per day designed on local crude during FY 2018-2019.
The said refinery is expected to be constructed within three years at the cost of US$ 500 million. This refinery will help in meeting the upcountry demand and save foreign reserves as well as transportation cost from Karachi to upcountry.
In addition, the OGRA has also made significant contribution in creation of the LPG infrastructure all over the country. An estimated investment of Rs5.76 billion has been made in the LPG supply infrastructure during FY 2018-2019, whereas total investment in the sector till date, is estimated at about Rs36.44 billion. With the rise in the number of licensees and investments in mid and downstream petroleum sector, the enforcement of technical and safety standards for the facilitation and protection of consumers and general public has become imperative.
The OGRA has further enhanced as well as strengthened its monitoring role of the regulated activities to avoid any incident in transportation of oil and LPG, manufacturing of standardized equipment and installation of facilities.
The authority has expanded and increased inspections by its staff and through third-party inspectors for the enforcement of quality standards, less filling, overcharging and quality non-conformation. Heavy fines have been imposed on violators and in some cases; licenses have also been suspended/revoked.
Protection of public from excesses and exploitation by licensees is one of the authority's core function thereby resolving consumers' grievances and complaints relating to its regulated activities has been placed highest among other priorities. The OGRA accepts the consumer complaints against natural gas, LPG, CNG and oil companies without charging any fee and with almost no formalities. These complaints are resolved expeditiously and in judicious manner. Public is largely appreciative on the complaint resolution process of the OGRA, and the relief provided against their complaints.
An important aspect of the OGRA's Complaint Resolution Procedure is that if the complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the designated officer, has the right to appeal to the authority. The authority, being quasi-judicial body, normally disposes off such appeals within a maximum period of 90 days, after providing opportunity of hearing to all concerned parties.
The OGRA is also proactively engaged in expeditious resolution of queries and complaints received through the Prime Minister's Citizen Portal as well as Clean and Green Pakistan initiative of the Government of Pakistan.
The OGRA enforcement staff takes action against non-compliant companies/outlets and ensures compliance. The two dedicated units are in place to deal with the complaints received under the Citizen Portal as well as Clean and Green Initiative respectively, supervised by the Senior Executive Director.
The OGRA believes in transparency and accountability in all its decision-making process whether they relate to determination of revenue requirements of natural gas utilities or grant of license in midstream and downstream regulated petroleum sector.
Authority take its decisions after complete due diligence, conduct in-depth scrutiny of the capital and operating expenditures based on prudence, optimization, improved service to consumers and safeguarding public interest. The authority believes in providing full opportunity to all the stakeholders to express their viewpoint freely and give due consideration before taking the regulatory decisions.
The role of information technology in organisational development has become centerpiece in obtaining organisational efficiency. In order to keep pace with technological developments and new norms of the business processes, the Authority has decided to introduce E-Office/Docketing and Information Repository System (DIRS) for digitalization of records/system and procedures to ensure efficiency accuracy, effectiveness, transparency, good governance and effective public service.
Implementation of E-office will provide its users with a user-friendly interface to work with and enable them to efficiently dispose off official business. E-Office will not only bring efficiency, effectiveness and transparency within the processes of the organization but will also reduce the cost of doing business. This system will manage and administer the documents filed by licensees and stakeholders. Digitization will provide security of the documents in all forms and shapes.
"I would like to appreciate the commitment and hard work of OGRA employees in order to achieve its objectives. However, we have a long way to go in building a dream team but the seedlings have been planted and I am confident that nurturing culture at OGRA will reap the fruit in future", she said.
"As a chairperson, I am committed to preserve the principles upon which the OGRA was established and has achieved a substantial progress. It is very essential to have consistency between short-term organisational goals and a long-term strategy," she added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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