OMCs want interest for delayed subsidy

16 Aug 2011 Evaluate

State-run oil marketing firms have asked government to pay interest on the subsidy amount that is held back by the latter. According to OMCs, they received letter from government mentioning the compensation amount, which is included by companies in there quarterly results, however they are yet to receive the actual amount.

Government has announced Rs 15,000 crore subsidies for the first quarter to OMCs for selling their products below market prices. Oil Ministry officials said that actual amount will be transferred to the OMCs account only by the end of current fiscal; till then the companies are forced to bear the brunt of higher interest borrowings.

The fuel prices were increased in June 2011 which attracted country-wide protests. The diesel price were increased by Rs 3.37 per litre, LPG Rs 50 per cylinder and Rs 2 per litre increase in kerosene rate, this hike in prices proved little helpful to OMCs profitability, but reduced their liquidity strain. Government had budgeted Rs 20,000 crore as fuel subsidy for current fiscal, however, the said amount has already been spent in paying the dues of previous fiscal.

Thus, the worries of OMCs are still continuing; they have to borrow at higher costs as government is delaying the release of subsidy. IOC chairman RS Butola said that the three oil companies had been pleading with the government that compensation should be paid on a monthly basis. 'Major reasons for the loss are unmet under-recovery (revenue loss) and high borrowing cost,' Butola added. IOC’s borrowing had soared up to over Rs 67,000 crore, from about Rs 52,000 crore, on March 31, 2011. This delay had caused the firm an additional interest burden of over Rs 1,000 crore. Similarly, HPCL and BPCL’s profitability is severely affected. All three firms (IOC, HPCL and BPCL) has reported a total net loss of Rs 9,000 crore.

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