Concerns of fertilizer and power sectors will be addressed: Finance Minister

05 Jul 2013 Evaluate

Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said that concerns of power and fertiliser sector will be addressed before the implementation of decision of natural gas price hike in April 2014. Chidambaram has already stated that only the price payable to producers has been fixed now and input rates for power and fertiliser have not been decided. He further stated that gas-based power plants represented a very small fraction of the total power capacity and oil ministry has asked power and fertilizer ministries to indicate the affordable gas price.

These two sectors have expressed their concern over the recent, government decision of doubling natural gas prices from the present $4.2 per million British thermal unit (mbtu) to $8.4 per mbtu from April 1, 2014. While, the Power Ministry wanted price to be maintained at the existing $4.2 per mBtu, the Fertiliser Ministry was ready to accept $6.7 per mBtu mooted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MPNG). The new price which will be applicable to all public and private sector producers alike, will likely result in rise in power tariffs and fertilizer cost.

Hike in gas price is likely to increase production cost of urea by around Rs 6,300 per ton, the Government controls MRP of urea at a low level and has been absorbing the increase in form of subsidy. Fertiliser subsidy has surged to Rs 1,02,207 crore in 2012-13. Similarly, the impact on power sector too would be incredible with state electricity boards already having a cumulative loss of over Rs 200,000 crore.


However, the move to raise gas prices is expected to benefit the government by around $2.2 billion incremental revenue by way of higher taxes. Further, the government can use high profit share to subsidize gas supply to the core sector. Oil minister M V Moily has said that the move will help bring gas production over 3 Trillion cubic feet of gas reserves that had been declared economically unviable at current rates of $ 4.2 per mbtu. 

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