Panel of ministers on fuel price to meet soon: S Jaipal Reddy

14 Jun 2011 Evaluate

After a series of deferral there seems some hope for the decision on fuel price hike, the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) is likely to meet soon to discuss the price hike in diesel, kerosene and cooking gas said the Oil Minister, S Jaipal Reddy.  Though any specific date is yet to be declared for the EGoM meet but there are buzz that it may happen in the coming week. The public sector oil marketing companies (OMCs) are incurring high revenue losses due to selling diesel, kerosene and cooking gas at the subsidized rates.

S Jaipal Reddy said, 'The oil companies have already lost Rs 45,000 in this financial year and they are losing Rs 450 crore everyday (on sale of subsidized fuel).' Currently, OMCs are incurring revenue loss of Rs 12.64 on every litre of diesel, Rs 26.16 on every litre of kerosene and Rs 381 LPG on every cylinder. At this rate the estimated loss of the present financial year are estimated to reach an all time high of Rs 165,000 crore.

Last week Oil minister had met Finance minister Pranab Mukharjee to discuss the financial losses of OMCs and asked for an immediate rise in the prices of diesel, kerosene and domestic LPG. The minister has been pressing hard for a meeting of the panel at the earliest. Earlier, two meetings of EGoM scheduled on May 11, and June 9, got canceled on the last moment. The government has been avoiding any hike in diesel price because of high inflation, as any increase in diesel price will have significant impact on inflation.

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