We, Haitham bin Tarik, the Sultan of Oman
after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State,
the Oil and Gas Law promulgated by Royal Decree 8/2011,
and the System of the Administrative Apparatus of the State promulgated by Royal Decree 75/2020,
and in pursuance of public interest,
have decreed as follows
Article I
The name of the “Electricity and Related Water Sector Regulation Authority” is hereby amended to the “Authority for Public Services Regulation.”
Article II
The competences related to the regulation of the activity of natural gas transportation stipulated in articles 4, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31 of the aforementioned Oil and Gas Law are hereby assigned to the Authority for Public Services Regulation.
Article III
The Authority for Public Services Regulation—in the exercise of its competence to regulate the activity of natural gas transportation—has all authorities, and in particular the following:
1. Issuing the licences related to natural gas transportation activity.
2. Concluding natural gas transportation concession agreements.
These agreements do not come into force until approved by royal decree.
Article IV
The provisions of this decree do not prejudice existing natural gas transportation agreements in force at the time of its entry into force, and to which the Sultanate is a party.
Article V
The Council of Ministers shall specify other utilities assigned to the Authority for Public Services Regulation.
Article VI
The phrases “Electricity and Related Water Sector Regulation Authority”, “Members of the Electricity and Related Water Sector Regulation Authority”, “Chairman of the Electricity and Related Water Sector Regulation Authority”, and “Executive Director of the Electricity and Related Water Sector Regulation Authority” wherever they occur in the laws and royal decrees are hereby replaced with the phrases “Authority for Public Services Regulation”, “Board of Directors of the Authority for Public Services Regulation”, “Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Authority for Public Services Regulation” and “President of the Authority for Public Services Regulation.”
The phrases “Ministry of Oil and Gas” and “Minister of Oil and Gas” wherever they occur in articles 4, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31 of the aforementioned Oil and Gas Law in relation to the regulation of natural gas transportation activity are hereby replaced with the phrases “Authority for Public Services Regulation” and “Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Authority for Public Services Regulation.”
Article VII
All that is contrary to this decree, or in conflict with its provisions, is hereby repealed.
Article VIII
This decree shall be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force on the date of its issuance.
Issued on: 22 Dhu Al-Hijja 1441
Corresponding to: 12 August 2020
Haitham bin Tarik
Sultan of Oman
Published in Official Gazette 1353 issued on 19 August 2020.