The Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA) is the independent regulator of the Natural Gas Sector (NGS) in accordance with the Natural Gas Act, 2024 (NGA). The NGA sets out URCA’s role, powers, and functions in addition to the statutory obligations of persons operating in the NGS. URCA is responsible for licensing and/or exempting activities in the NGS value chain throughout The Bahamas. URCA also has the power to issue regulatory and other measures to effectively and efficiently regulate the NGS.

Under the NGA, URCA may by determination exempt any person from complying with the requirement to obtain a licence for activities in the NGS. Any person that meets the criteria of an exemption will not require a licence from URCA for those activities as set out in the exemption.

This Preliminary Determination and Draft Order (PDDO) consultation document, amongst other things, is a regulatory measure issued by URCA that proposes to exempt persons from obtaining a licence for the import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in The Bahamas in specific circumstances.

You can find the full document, which includes information on how to respond to the PDDO by the deadline of 12 October 2025 here: URCA PDDO Import Exemption NGS052025.