Centre Proposes Amendments To Static And Mobile Pressure Vessels Rules To Streamline ISO Tank Container Usage

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, acting through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, issued a notification on February 24, 2026, introducing the draft Static and Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) (Amendment) Rules, 2026. These rules were proposed in exercise of the powers conferred by Sections 5 and 7 of the Explosives Act, 1884, to further modify the principal rules established in 2016. The government published the draft to inform all persons likely to be affected, providing a thirty-day window for the submission of objections or suggestions before the final version is taken into consideration. The legislation provided: “ISO Tank Container can be used for, above ground storage compressed gas, if properly anchored to the foundation. The structural integrity after anchoring to the foundation shall be certified by reputed structural engineer.”

The proposed amendments introduced several technical and administrative changes to the existing regulatory framework. A significant modification concerned Rule 22, where the government proposed to increase the maximum number of mounded storage vessels (vessels buried under a mound of earth or sand for safety) allowed in a single group from six to nine. Additionally, the draft rules sought to omit Rule 47 entirely, removing the previous requirement for a No Objection Certificate from local authorities for certain licenses. The notification also revised the fee structure by deleting the five-thousand-rupee fee previously required for specific application documents under Form AS-4. These rules are slated to come into force on the date of their final publication in the Official Gazette.

The legislative intent behind these amendments focused on modernizing the storage and transportation of compressed gases while enhancing the ease of doing business within the sector. By allowing ISO tank containers to be used for above-ground storage, the government addressed a statutory gap regarding the versatility of standardized international containers. The rules also introduced a longer-term regulatory certainty by specifying that permissions in Form-LS-2B for the transport or import of compressed gas in ISO tank containers shall be granted or renewed for a period of up to ten years. This change aimed to reduce the frequency of administrative renewals for stakeholders involved in the bulk movement of hazardous gases.

Furthermore, the draft rules refined the protocols for dispensing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The amendments specified that LNG should be dispensed only into the fuel tanks of non-transport vehicles, boats approved by the Maritime Board, or engines operated by the Railways and other government-controlled entities. This provision ensured that high-pressure fuel dispensing remained restricted to approved environments and specialized machinery. The substitution of Form LS-2B introduced a comprehensive list of safety conditions, including the mandatory use of spark arrestors (devices to prevent the emission of flammable debris from exhaust) and the requirement for electrical bonding (the practice of connecting metallic parts to prevent static sparks) during the loading and unloading of flammable gases.

The policy rationale also emphasized safety through rigorous inspection and maintenance standards. The rules mandated that repairs to ISO tank containers must be carried out by original equipment manufacturers or agencies approved by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation. By aligning domestic regulations with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods standards for periodic inspections, the amendment sought to harmonize Indian safety protocols with global best practices. These measures collectively addressed the limitations of the earlier statutory framework, ensuring that the expansion of storage capacities and the import of compressed gases are managed under a robust, updated enforcement mechanism.

Keywords: Explosives Act 1884, ISO Tank Containers, Compressed Gas, SMPV Rules 2026, LNG Dispensing, Mounded Storage Vessels, DPIIT Notification

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