NTPC declines Shell LNG offer
New Delhi: Although it is currently procuring naphtha at $18.69 per mmbtu for some of its power projects. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has turned down Shell's offer to supply LNG at $10.41 per mmbtu for its power projects in Gujarat.

Shell has now sought the power ministry's intervention in the matter. NTPC has, however, termed the Shell offer as "highly opportunistic". In a strongly-worded missive to the power ministry, NTPC said, "In the prevailing conditions of acute mismatch between the demand and supply of natural gas in the country coupled with the absence of a developed gas market, such an offer from Shell Hazira solely aims at maximisation of its profits at the cost of consumers."

It further said that sourcing of gas at such high prices, even for the short term, would set incorrect benchmarks, thereby affecting the sourcing of gas for Ratnagiri Gas and Power Private Limited (RGPPL) at the targeted prices set by the government.

"Accepting such an offer from Shell would jeopardise the scheme of revival of RGPPL, adversely affecting its commercial viability," NTPC said.

NTPC sources said the company was close to signing a deal with Petronet LNG Limited for around one mmscmd of RLNG at a much lesser price. "Procuring LNG from Shell at this price will have massive implications for all our future gas sourcing deals," an NTPC source said.
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Bulk of DLF's investments to be in new businesses
New Delhi: Real Estate major DLF Universal intends to invest over Rs1,00,000 crore in next seven to 10 years in both its existing and new business ventures. As per available information, most of these investments would be made in the three new businesses -- hospitality, SEZs and infrastructure.

In each of these businesses the Group would take leading global players as partners. DLF is coming out with a mega IPO in next couple of weeks.

"We are in the business of real estate development including residential, commercial and retail properties, and we intend to diversify into new businesses such as hotels, SEZs and infrastructure," DLF said in a draft prospectus submitted the market regulator SEBI.
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Tea Board may move against IBM, Accenture
Kolkata: The Tea Board might consider taking legal action against IBM and Accenture for developing defective software for the electronic tea auction.

NSE.IT, a subsidiary of National Stock Exchange, has now been mandated to develop this software.

According to Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Commerce, the software developed by these leading companies has failed to meet the requirements of the industry.

"It does not help in price realisation for the producers. Moreover, the system is not transparent. We may consider taking legal action against them," he told newspersons on Sunday. The total cost for developing software was Rs65-70 lakh and its total national implementation was scheduled a year back.
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Steel tops in carbon credits
New Delhi: Iron and steel has emerged as the leading sectors for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and earning carbon credits. Karnataka has the largest number of such projects in the country, a Ficci study has said.

As many as 98 energy efficiency projects have already been approved by the National Clean Development Mechanism Authority, with carbon emission reductions of over 70 million expected to be achieved in the next six years, Ficci said in a release today.

Iron and steel is followed by cement as the top industry sectors in terms of share in energy efficiency projects approved by the CDM.

The analysis showed that six power plants and five projects in petrochemicals sector are expected to achieve CERs of 2.5 million and 2.1 million respectively by 2012.

In fuel switching, 15 projects relating to power generation, chemicals, fertilisers and glass have been approved with expected CERs of 28 million.
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IT shipments rise 30 per cent in FY06
Bangalore: According to statistics released by IDC, a global provider of market intelligence and advisory services firm, the number of shipments during FY 06 grew by 30% to cross 4.6m.

Notebooks rose by 168%, while commercial desktop sales rose 15%. Consumer desktops rose by 33% in the April '05-March '06 period, while desktop PCs rose by 21% as a whole.

HP continued to be the market leader with a share of 18% followed by HCL at 14% while Lenovo has a 9% marketshare. For the first quarter ended March 31, '06 the shipments for the commercial desktop market grew 14% sequentially with the small and medium business segment witnessing a 40% sequential growth.

Despite the re-imposition of the 12% excise duty in Budget '06, notebook sales zoomed by 177% sequentially. At the enterprise level, notebooks are increasingly being looked at productivity tools, not meant for the designated few in the organisation's hierarchy but for the larger workforce."

However, the consumer desktop segment witnessed a measly 3% sequential rise despite the fact that some of the players like HP and Lenovo roping in Bollywood superstars like Shahrukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Soha Ali Khan as brand ambassadors.

On a year on year basis, for the quarter ended March 31, '06 the consumer desktop market grew by an impressive 36%.
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