PESO License in India

The Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) is a statutory authority under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India. It is responsible for regulating the manufacture, storage, transport, import, and sale of petroleum products, explosive substances, compressed gas cylinders, and other hazardous materials in India.

Any individual or business entity that manufactures, stores, transports, imports, sells, or uses petroleum products, explosive substances, compressed or liquefied gases, or other PESO-regulated hazardous materials above prescribed quantities is required to obtain a PESO license in India. This includes petroleum depots, fuel storage facilities, LPG bottling plants, explosives manufacturers and dealers, gas cylinder fillers and distributors, mining companies, pyrotechnics manufacturers, chemical plants, and industrial facilities storing regulated gases.

PESO issues several categories of licence depending on the regulated substance and activity. Key licence types include: petroleum storage license under the Petroleum Rules, 2002 for storage of Class A, B, and C petroleum products; explosive licence in India under the Explosives Rules, 2008 for manufacture, possession, sale, transport, and import of explosive substances; gas cylinder license under the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 for manufacture, filling, import, and distribution of compressed gas cylinders; and hazardous material license for facilities handling regulated compressed and liquefied gases such as chlorine, ammonia, and hydrogen.

Yes. A physical site inspection conducted by PESO's Inspector or Joint Controller of Explosives is a mandatory step in the PESO License in India process for most licence categories. The inspection verifies that the facility meets statutory safety requirements, including correct storage distances from buildings and boundaries, appropriate tank or magazine construction, fire protection systems, earthing and bonding, and safety signage.

The validity period of a PESO license in India varies by License Category and regulated substance. Most PESO licences are valid for one to five years and require renewal before expiry. PESO registration renewal typically requires submission of updated documentation, confirmation of continued PESO compliance, payment of renewal fees, and in some cases a re-inspection of the facility.

Operating a facility or conducting activities that require a PESO license in India without a valid licence is a criminal offence under the Petroleum Act, 1934, the Explosives Act, 1884, or the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016, depending on the regulated substance involved. Consequences include prosecution of the occupier, facility closure and sealing, seizure of stored petroleum, explosives, or gas cylinders, financial penalties, and permanent debarment from future PESO approval applications.

Yes. An existing PESO license in India can be amended to reflect changes in the licensed activity, such as increase in storage capacity, addition of new regulated substances, change of occupier or location, or modification of facility layout. Each amendment requires an application to the relevant PESO regional office with supporting documentation. Changes that materially affect safety distance compliance, tank design, or explosive storage magazine construction may trigger a re-inspection before the amendment is granted and the PESO registration is updated.

Timelines vary by license category, storage capacity, and inspection readiness. Petroleum storage and gas cylinder licenses may take several weeks to a few months, while explosive-related approvals can take longer depending on documentation quality, site readiness, and regulatory review requirements.

Yes. A petroleum storage license under the Petroleum Rules, 2002 covers Class A (flash point below 23°C), Class B (flash point 23–65°C), and Class C (flash point 65–93°C) petroleum products stored above prescribed quantities. LPG facilities may be subject to requirements under the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 and/or the Static and Mobile Pressure Vessels (Unfired) Rules, 2016, depending on the nature of the installation, storage arrangement and activity. Both are forms of PESO License but are governed by different rules, have different site and design requirements, and are reviewed by PESO under distinct regulatory pathways. Businesses handling both must hold separate licences for each regulated substance.

IMARC Engineering provides end-to-end support for PESO license in India, from License Category identification and site compliance gap assessment to documentation preparation, PESO registration filing, site inspection readiness, and post-approval PESO compliance advisory. Our team supports petroleum storage license, explosive license in India, gas cylinder license, and hazardous material license applications, helping manufacturing facilities, storage operators, and industrial businesses obtain and maintain PESO approval without compliance gaps or inspection failures.