Oil Ministry once again under storm over KG-D6 block

21 Jun 2011 Evaluate

The oil ministry is facing embarrassment again; this time it is the high-level Ashok Chawla Committee who has alleged the former for the same reason as CAG draft report. According to the committee, the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) is designed such that they will benefit the private players like in case of Reliance Industries.

However, oil ministry cites that this contract was awarded to RIL as per the New Exploration Licensing Policy which was designed by BJP led government in 1999 and was approved by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Earlier a draft Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report found a number of violations, some facilitated by the Government, in oil exploration contracts signed by the Government with Reliance Industries (RIL), Cairn India and the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). According to CAG draft report, government has favoured RIL to violate terms of the contract with the government for its showcase Andhra offshore fields and increase its capital expenditure plan to start production from India's biggest gas discovery in recent years. The report states that RIL was allowed to recover the capital cost incurred before the profits split between the stakeholders, including the government.

The report also mentions irregularities on Cairns India PSC which in total granted 11,108 sq km area in RJ-ON-90/1 block’ in Rajasthan. However, oil ministry agreed to company’s request for granting additional 852.2 sq km in August 2004 and 856 sq km in March 2005. Although PSC cites that the government can extend the contract area to include a hydrocarbon reservoir that extends beyond the block boundaries.

The oil minister S. Jaipal Reddy who was supposed to respond to CAG report in two weeks said 'Our ministry has asked for eight weeks' time. We need to look at files dealt with years ago.  The draft report is not a final report. The CAG would send draft reports to the ministries concerned with an open mind so that the government could give their replies with an open mind.'

The oil minister noted that 'if there are valid criticisms made in the final report, we will not hesitate to correct ourselves or take remedial steps. But that does not mean we should jump to conclusions. If this is the way criticisms are mounted, it will be difficult to take big decisions. Everybody will pass the buck. Our development will suffer,' he told reporters, but added the government would respond to the CAG's criticism with an open mind. 

Oil Minister S Jaipal Reddy had yesterday indicated that the government will be open to accepting suggestions that can improve PSCs, but there are doubts if any chances in policy can be implemented with retrospective effect.

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