OilMin U-turn on RIL KG-D6 gas price

The Oil Ministry has withdrawn a note it had circulated to the members of a ministerial panel opposing hike in price of gas produced by Reliance Industries, as the Rangarajan Committee is examining pricing of the fuel.

In a surprise move, the Ministry had on October 10 moved a note to the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) opposing a hike in price of RIL's KG-D6 gas before April 2014 even though the company itself was not seeking a revision before that date.

"Yes, the note to EGoM has been withdrawn," a top ministry official said.

This was done in view of panel headed by Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council Chairman C Rangarajan being asked to suggest "structure and elements of the guidelines for determining the basis or formula for the price of domestically produced gas, and for monitoring actual price fixation."

Prime Minister had appointed the six-member panel to essentially look at the design of future contracts for exploration of of oil and gas. It had also been tasked to suggest pricing of natural gas.

Sources said the Ministry had in the October 10 note to EGoM members argued that a higher price of KG-D6 gas would result in USD 6.3 billion rise in subsidy burden.

RIL, it said, would get an additional USD 4.1 billion revenue if the rates are hiked from current USD 4.2 per million British thermal unit to import parity rates of USD 14.2-14.51 per mmBtu.

The government on the other hand would get only USD 0.5 billion at current year production level of around 25 million standard cubic metres per day.

Sources said the ministry stated that a USD 10 rise in gas price would result in increase in subsidy paid on fertiliser and power by USD 6.3 billion.

... contd.

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