Recently, the Standing Committee of the Henan Provincial People's Congress officially released the Henan Province Gas Management Regulations (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations ). Under the unified guidance of the Henan Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Tian Lun Gas, as the vice-chairman unit of the Henan Provincial Urban Gas Association, was invited by the association to participate in drafting the "Facility Protection" chapter and revising other sections of the Regulations (Draft).
Screenshot of Henan People's Congress official website
"Facility Protection" Added as a New Chapter in the Regulations
Xu Weidong, Vice Chairman of the Henan Provincial Urban Gas Association and Deputy General Manager of Tian Lun Gas Group, stated that as the first local regulation in Henan focusing on gas industry management, balancing development and safety, and promoting high-quality development of the gas sector, the Regulations will provide detailed legal basis and normative guidance for gas management in Henan Province. Tian Lun Gas considers it a great responsibility to participate in and witness this milestone for Henan's gas industry, especially in drafting the "Facility Protection" chapter as a new addition to the Regulations. Moving forward, Tian Lun Gas will continue to strengthen the implementation of industry technical standards and enhance its core competitiveness in safety management.
Li Bing, Deputy General Manager of Tian Lun Gas Group's Design Institute and a representative participant in the drafting process, explained that compared to the 2013 Henan Province Urban Gas Management Measures, the "Facility Protection" chapter, newly added to the Regulations, integrates Tian Lun Gas's safety technical standards, operational guidelines, and practical experience in gas facility operation, maintenance, and emergency repairs. Based on laws, administrative regulations, and technical standards such as the Law of the People's Republic of China on Work Safety, the State Council's Urban Gas Management Regulations, and the national standard Gas Engineering Project Specifications and comprehensively considering the content of the Regulations (Draft), the drafting work received recognition from leaders and experts during multiple review meetings.
During the drafting process, the Regulations legislative research team visited Tian Lun Gas's project companies in Hebi and Xuchang to gather feedback. Hebi Company proposed establishing safety standards for rural gas facilities. Xuchang Company recommended regulating the quality and installation qualification requirements of customer-purchased gas appliances. Both suggestions were fully acknowledged and adopted by the legislative research team.
Human + Technical Safeguards: Strengthening Dual Protection for Gas Operation Safety
As a leading urban gas operator in China, Tian Lun Gas manages 70 urban gas projects nationwide, with a total of 9,332 kilometers of medium- and high-pressure gas pipelines in operation. Effectively ensuring the stable operation of gas facilities has become a critical aspect of safety management.
In recent years, Tian Lun Gas has continuously improved its safety and digital management capabilities. In engineering construction, digital twin technology is used to provide scientific support for pipeline system design and renovation plans, with strict adherence to management standards during construction. Project acceptance involves joint inspections by construction, design, contractor, and supervision teams. and prosperity of Henan and China. In smart operations, while maintaining professional personnel and equipment and strictly conducting regular maintenance and inspection of pipeline networks, Tian Lun Gas has increased investment in technical safeguards, building a robust "Digital Gas" network. Smart operation systems such as GIS and SCADA have been deployed, and "digital sentinel" sensors enable smart management across engineering surveying, safety monitoring, and construction supervision. To support urban renewal and renovation projects, Tian Lun Gas maintains records of aging pipeline and facility renovations, updates foundational data, and ensures safety monitoring during critical phases like post-renovation gas resumption, contributing to the development of urban "lifelines."
From participating in drafting the Regulations to urban renewal governance, these efforts not only reflect the Henan Provincial CPC Committee and People's Government's recognition of Tian Lun Gas's contributions to public welfare projects but also represent the results of Tian Lun Gas's deep engagement in the energy sector and its enhancement of brand influence. In the future, Tian Lun Gas will continue to advance new quality productive forces, support urban safety governance, and optimize business environments, contributing to a prosperous Henan Province and a safer China.
Interpretation of the Regulations :
· Clarifying Pipeline Gas Franchise System and Strengthening Gas Safety Management
Gas legislation should prioritize safety. The newly released Regulations establish a franchise system for pipeline gas operations. While prohibiting gas operators from "abusing franchise rights to force unreasonable service conditions or fees on customers or otherwise infringing on their lawful rights," the Regulations also ban individuals from engaging in gas business activities. If customers or related entities or individuals violate prohibitions—such as "installing or using gas appliances that do not meet national quality standards or gas source requirements" or "unauthorized installation, modification, or removal of indoor gas facilities and metering devices"—"gas operators shall notify customers to cease the violations and demand timely rectification. If customers refuse to do so, gas operators may suspend supply as per the gas contract and report the matter to gas management authorities."
In addition to requiring gas operators to conduct at least one annual in-home safety inspection, aligning with the amended Work Safety Law, the Regulations mandate that businesses catering and other industries that use gas shall install and maintain functional combustible gas alarms. Furthermore, the Regulations stipulate that residential gas pipelines shall be equipped with safety devices that can cut off gas supply to appliances when the pipeline pressure drops below a specified value or when the flow rate of the connecting pipeline to the appliances exceeds a specified limit. Gas operators and gas customers are encouraged to purchase relevant liability insurance.
· Focusing on Rural Gas Planning and Development and Promoting Pipeline Gas Expansion to Rural Areas
To coordinate urban-rural integration, focus on and strengthen rural gas safety management, address safety weaknesses in rural gas usage, further improve the system and mechanism for rural gas construction and management, define the responsibilities of relevant departments, and ensure the life and property safety of the people, the Regulations state that “the compilation of gas development plans shall consider urban-rural coordination, cover towns that meet gas development conditions, advance rural gas facility construction, and promote the extension of pipeline gas to suburban and other qualified rural areas, while making regulations about the supply layout and safety guarantees for bottled gas.” Additionally, the provincial government is authorized to first issue specific rural gas management rules, with the Regulations adding: "Specific measures for rural gas management shall be formulated by the provincial government."