Regulation No. 573 date 3.10.2018 approving rules and rules of procedure regarding natural gas sector oversight functions of the ministry responsible for energy.

The purpose of Regulation 573 of 2018 is three fold: i) to set forth rules of procedure and regulations regarding natural gas sector oversight functions by the ministry responsible for energy in compliance with their obligation to guarantee the construction and safe use of the natural gas infrastructure and its regional interconnections, ii) guarantee a sustainable and safe supply of natural gas through a competing and liberalized market, and iii) environmental protection through rigid enforcement of relevant legal frameworks especially the sections dealing with the technical standards of the natural gas infrastructure installation and exploitation. Specifically, the regulation deals with the ministry's role in inspection and oversight functions in the natural gas infrastructure building, equipment installation, and business operators activities, the rules of procedure for authorizing inspections, duties and responsibilities of the inspectorate staff, and duties and responsibilities of the business operators that build and exploit the natural gas infrastructure. The inspection should be carried out in accordance with the requirements of law 10433 of 2011 on inspection.