Government asks RIL to supply natural gas to Dabhol plant

04 December 2008

The government has asked Reliance Industries to supply natural gas from its D6 fields in the Krishna-Godaveri basin in the eastern offshore to the beleaguered Dabhol power plant.

Power plants are among top priority in the allocation of natural gas under the government's policy.

In a press note issued today, the government also said the supply of natural gas would be made at a selling price of $4.2/mmbtu (for crude price greater or equal to $60/barrel) for all customers across all sectors from D-6 field, as decided in the empowered group of ministers (EGoM) meeting held on 12 August. This excludes transportation cost, taxes, etc, it said.

The EGoM at its meeting held on 28 May had decided that 40 mmscmd of natural gas expected to be produced from RIL's KG D6 field by March 2009 would be supplied to priority sectors.

While confirming the overall prioritisation of sectors, the government has accorded priority to Ratnagiri Power Project Limited (RGPPL) along with fertilizer units. It has been decided that RGPPL be supplied 1.4 mmscmd during January to March 2009 and 2.7 mmscmd during April to September 2009, subject to commencement of production, within the overall allocation of power sector (18 mmscmd) decided earlier. Further, 8.5 mmscmd would be supplied to RGPPL after September 2009 from the production from RIL's KG D6 field.

The decisions taken by the government regarding supply of natural gas to priority sectors, along with the modification decided thereafter, would be made applicable to the first 40 mmscmd of gas produced from RIL's KG D-6 field, irrespective of the date on which this production is attained, the press note said.