Statute Details
- Title: Gas (Designated Gas Transporter) Notification
- Act Code: GA2001-N1
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (Notification)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Authorising Act: Gas Act (Chapter 116A)
- Key legislative hook: Designation for the purposes of Part VII of the Gas Act, tied to the definition of “designated gas transporter” in section 61A
- Citation: G.N. No. S 221/2008 (Revised Edition 2009)
- Legislative history (as provided): 22 Apr 2008 (SL 221/2008); 1 Jun 2009 (2009 RevEd)
- Commencement date: Not stated in the extract (but the Revised Edition indicates 1 June 2009 as the effective revision date)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Gas (Designated Gas Transporter) Notification is a short but legally significant instrument. Its core function is to formally designate a particular company as a “designated gas transporter” under the Gas Act (Chapter 116A). In practical terms, it identifies the entity that will be subject to the regulatory framework applicable to designated gas transporters—particularly the regime contained in Part VII of the Gas Act.
In plain language, the Notification answers a regulatory question: which gas transporter is officially designated by the Authority for the statutory purposes of Part VII? This matters because designation typically triggers specific obligations, permissions, and regulatory oversight mechanisms that do not necessarily apply to all gas transporters.
Although the Notification itself contains only two operative provisions, it operates within a broader statutory architecture. The Gas Act defines the concept of “designated gas transporter” (notably in section 61A, as referenced in the extract) and then uses that concept to allocate regulatory responsibilities and powers under Part VII. The Notification is the administrative/legal “switch” that activates those Part VII consequences for a named market participant.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation (Section 1)
Section 1 provides the formal name by which the instrument may be cited: “Gas (Designated Gas Transporter) Notification.” While this provision is standard in legislative drafting, it is important for practitioners because it ensures correct referencing in legal submissions, compliance documentation, and regulatory correspondence.
2. Designation of the gas transporter (Section 2)
The substantive provision is Section 2. It states that “The Authority hereby declares PowerGas Limited to be a designated gas transporter for the purposes of Part VII of the Act.” This is the operative act of designation.
From a legal perspective, Section 2 does three things at once:
- Identifies the designated entity: PowerGas Limited.
- Connects the designation to a statutory regime: Part VII of the Gas Act.
- Confirms the designation is made by “the Authority” (i.e., the relevant regulator empowered under the Gas Act to make such declarations).
Practical implications of designation
Even though the extract does not reproduce Part VII, the legal effect is that PowerGas Limited becomes the designated transporter for the regulatory purposes contemplated by the Gas Act. In many regulatory statutes, designation is used to establish a special status for an entity that performs a critical infrastructure function (such as gas transportation), and it may affect matters such as:
- regulatory oversight (reporting, monitoring, compliance audits);
- conditions of operation (including requirements relating to tariffs, access, or service standards);
- licensing or authorisation frameworks (where designation interacts with licensing regimes); and
- allocation of statutory duties (for example, obligations to provide transportation services under specified terms).
Practitioners should treat the designation as a trigger for the Part VII obligations and powers, and therefore should cross-check the current text of Part VII and section 61A of the Gas Act to understand the full compliance and enforcement consequences.
Versioning and legal certainty
The extract indicates a timeline: an initial instrument dated 22 April 2008 (SL 221/2008) and a Revised Edition 2009 dated 1 June 2009. The document is shown as “current version as at 27 Mar 2026.” For legal work, this matters because the designation is not merely historical—it is the operative legal status as of the current version. If amendments exist, they would typically appear in the legislative history or amendment annotations; the extract does not show substantive changes to the designation itself, but counsel should still verify whether any later amendments altered the named entity or the scope of designation.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Notification is structured as a very short subsidiary instrument with:
- Section 1: citation provision; and
- Section 2: the operative designation clause.
There are no schedules, definitions, or procedural provisions in the extract. Instead, the Notification relies on the Gas Act for the broader legal framework—particularly the meaning of “designated gas transporter” and the regulatory consequences under Part VII.
In terms of legal drafting style, this is a classic example of a declaratory administrative notification: it does not create a new regulatory scheme from scratch; it implements a statutory mechanism by naming the entity that falls within a defined category.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Notification applies directly to PowerGas Limited, because it is the entity declared to be a designated gas transporter for the purposes of Part VII of the Gas Act.
However, its effects are not limited to the designated company alone. In practice, designation can influence how other market participants interact with the designated transporter—such as parties seeking transportation services, access arrangements, or regulatory approvals that depend on the identity of the designated transporter. Therefore, while the Notification is addressed to the designated entity, it can be relevant to customers, counterparties, and regulated stakeholders who must comply with or rely on the Part VII regime.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Designation notifications like this one are important because they determine who is subject to a special regulatory status. For practitioners, the key point is that the Notification is not merely descriptive; it is the legal basis for applying the Part VII framework to a specific company.
From an enforcement and compliance standpoint, counsel should treat the designation as a foundational document. If a regulated obligation under Part VII is triggered by being a “designated gas transporter,” then the Notification is the document that establishes whether the obligation applies to PowerGas Limited. This can matter in disputes, regulatory investigations, and contractual arrangements where compliance with statutory duties is contested.
From a governance and risk perspective, designation also affects how the regulator exercises its statutory powers. If Part VII includes mechanisms such as directions, approvals, reporting requirements, or other regulatory controls, then the Notification is the instrument that identifies the regulated subject. Practitioners advising PowerGas Limited (or parties contracting with it) should ensure that internal compliance systems are aligned with the Part VII requirements and that any regulatory communications correctly reference the designated status.
Finally, the Notification’s current status “as at 27 Mar 2026” provides legal certainty for ongoing regulatory relationships. Even though the instrument is dated, the “current version” label indicates that the designation remains in force unless and until amended or revoked through a subsequent notification or legislative change.
Related Legislation
- Gas Act (Chapter 116A) — particularly section 61A (definition of “designated gas transporter”) and Part VII (the regulatory regime for designated gas transporters)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Gas (Designated Gas Transporter) Notification for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.