We, Qaboos bin Said, the Sultan of Oman
after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State issued by Royal Decree 101/96,
and the Law on the Expropriation for Public Benefit issued by Royal Decree 64/78 and its amendments,
and in pursuance of public interest,
have decreed as follows
Article I
The existing oil and gas pipelines and those to be constructed in the future hereby have a buffer zone of 25 metres wide on each side from the central pipeline. The Ministry of Oil and Gas may, in coordination with the Supreme Committee for Town Planning, delimit the buffer zone in urban areas to less than that.
Article II
The project for establishing the buffer zone stipulated in article I for oil and gas pipelines existing on the date of entry into force of this decree is hereby deemed a public benefit project.
The Ministry of Oil and Gas may seize, through direct execution, lands necessary for the project, and all that is on them, in accordance with the provisions of the mentioned Law on the Expropriation for Public Benefit.
Article III
With the exception of the activities undertaken by the operator of oil and gas pipelines in the buffer zone stipulated in article 28 of this law, it is not permitted for others to undertake any activities or construct any structures or buildings within it, whether it is on, above, or below ground.
As an exception to this, government entities may construct roads; build bridges, tunnels, fences, water channels, sewage drainage, aflaj, overhead and buried power and telecommunication lines, water distribution pipes; and conduct other activities and projects within the mentioned buffer zone, after the written approval of the Ministry of Oil and Gas and in accordance with the terms and conditions it specifies.
In the event of a violation, the Ministry of Oil and Gas may request the competent government entity to take the necessary action within the appropriate period specified by the ministry. Otherwise, it may perform the required works at the expense of the violating government entity, without prejudice to the liability of the violator.
Article IV
Any buildings or structures that are built within the buffer zone stipulated in article I must be administratively removed at the cost of the violator as of the date of entry into force of this decree, without prejudice to the criminal liability of the violator.
The removal must be issued by a decision of the Minister of Oil and Gas.
Article V
This decree must be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force from the date of its publication.
Issued on: 15 Ramadan 1419
Corresponding to: 3 January 1999
Qaboos bin Said
Sultan of Oman
Published in Official Gazette 639 issued on 16 January 1999.