Government Proposes Faster Approvals, Tougher Safety Rules for Fuel Tank Containers
What Happened
The government has proposed amendments to the Petroleum Rules, 2002, allowing permissions for importing and transporting petroleum in ISO tank containers to remain valid for up to three years, instead of the current one-year regime. The draft also introduces a seven-working-day deemed approval mechanism for complete applications submitted through the PESO portal.
Key Takeaways
The proposed changes aim to reduce regulatory delays while strengthening safety. Vehicles carrying petroleum in ISO tank containers would face stricter requirements, including mandatory safety equipment and responsible personnel during transit, balancing ease of doing business with safer transportation of hazardous fuels.