52 Oil, gas blocks approved under NELP-VI

16 Jan 2007

New Delhi: The Empowered Committee of Secretaries, comprising of top officials from petroleum, law and finance ministries, on Monday approved awarding 52 oil and gas blocks offered in NELP-VI, including 19 blocks under the sixth round of New Exploration Licensing Policy.

Oil and Natural Gas Corp and its partners emerged as the top winner of NELP-VI with 25 blocks, including 12 deep-sea blocks, while Reliance Industries will get seven deep-sea blocks, officials said.

Santos will get two deep-sea blocks. Of the six shallow water blocks on offer, ONGC and its partners will walk away with three blocks, while Focus-Newbury, Petronas and Petrogas will get one each.

ONGC and its partner are set to get 10 onland blocks while OIL and partners have been recommended for seven blocks. Essar, GSPC and Adani will get two each and Naftogaz-RNRL one.
Although ECS approved the award of blocks, it is not yet clear whether the government will ask these firms to change the government's share.

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