CCI likely to clear in two-weeks most of oil and gas blocks: Ahluwalia

20 Feb 2013 Evaluate

In a move to fast track clearances for investment trapped in oil and gas sector, the newly constituted Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to clear in the next two weeks several of 39 oil and gas fields that are stuck for want of defence clearance.

While addressing an event, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said, ‘meeting of the CCI took place (on January 30)... I am not sure about all the oil blocks (but) some of the blocks were looked at. I am hopeful that within two weeks or so, several of those would be cleared.’ So far, officials from ministries of defence and petroleum have sorted out issues at majority of the 39 blocks.

Earlier, CCI had asked the ministries of defence and oil, within one month to sort out issues like exploration area extending beyond the proposed Naval base or being close to missile launching and Air Force exercise area. After which the panel will consider giving the blocks go-ahead for oil and gas exploration and production.

Seven blocks including RIL's KG-D6, which has been in production since September 2008, and its gas discovery block NEC-25 had been declared by the Defence Ministry as 'No-Go' area for oil and gas exploration and production activities and further imposed stringent conditions for another 32.

Initially, the Defence Ministry had declared 14 blocks as 'No-Go' areas as they over-lapped or were close to proposed Naval base or missile launching range/air force exercise area. However, they later granted and agreed for exploration to be permitted in 7 blocks in Mahanadi basin.

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