An advisory panel will be established later this month to examine further deregulation of the city gas market, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Takeo Hiranuma said Tuesday.

The panel is expected to discuss a broad range of issues related to regulations for the utilities market. These include the greater liberalization of retail business and the access to grids held by existing gas operators.

The panel is to consist of about 30 members, including scholars and representatives of the private sector and consumer groups.

According to a ministry official, the panel will compile a report next fall.

The city gas market was partly deregulated in 1995, when retail business was opened for large-lot users who consume more than 2 million cu. meters of city gas a year.

Before the deregulation process started, the utilities market was monopolized by regional operators.

In 1999, the government deregulated the market further by expanding the scope of the partially liberalized retail business and compelling the country's four major gas operators to open their grids to new operators.

When the latest deregulation measures were taken, it was decided to re-examine the existing law in three years. The ministry's establishment of the new panel is in line with this decision, the official said.