India plans to unveil shale gas exploration policy in next 2 weeks

25 Mar 2013 Evaluate

India is planning to unveil its shale gas policy within next two weeks as it seeks to exploit unconventional resources to fuel its expanding economy and cut subsidies. According to oil minister Veerappa Moily, Shale gas blocks will be offered on terms that are likely to be remarkably different from those offered in bid rounds for oil and gas blocks.

The policy, is likely to be approved by the Cabinet in 10 to 15 days, based on which the government will launch its first auction of shale gas block by 2013-end. By adding further Moily said, the government has formed an expert committee under Vijay Kelkar to suggest roadmap for cutting India's dependence on imports to meet its oil needs. India currently imports as much as 79 per cent of its oil needs and the Ministry wants this to be cut to 50 per cent by 2020 through intensive exploration and exploitation of untapped reserves.

Shale gas or natural gas trapped in sedimentary rocks (shale formations) below the earth's surface is the new focus area in the US, Canada and China as an alternative to conventional oil and gas for meeting growing energy needs. The government, however, is also working on a new policy for exploiting gas lying below coal seams, called Coal-Bed Methane.

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