Former fertiliser secretary S Krishnan is now the new chairman of oil regulator Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB).

Krishnan will replace Labanyendu Mansingh, for the post of chairman who will retire on October 11, 2011, on attaining the age of 65 year

The post of member (Commercial) of the PNGRB has been lying vacant since November 17, 2010, and the committee had selected B M Bansal, the then acting chairman of Indian Oil Corporation, from among those who had applied for the job. But in January this year, he suddenly declined the offer without citing any reason.

On May 12, the supreme court directed the government to fill the vacancy within four weeks. The oil ministry had also issued an advertisement calling
for applications to fill the post of chairman when the incumbent, Labanyendu Mansingh, retires on October 11, 2011, on attaining the age of 65 year

Krishnan, would have a free hand to run PNGRB following the supreme court’s order of May 12 that gave the Board power to authorise companies to build gas pipelines, supply retail CNG to vehicles and piped cooking gas to households in cities under Section 16 of the PNGRB Act. The apex court directed PNGRB to process the pending as well as new applications.