ADAG proposes Rs 16,000 cr pipeline | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

ADAG proposes Rs 16,000 cr pipeline

None | ByPress Trust of India, New Delhi
Jun 16, 2006 12:42 PM IST

Anil Ambani Group had this month applied for a license to set up CGD networks in Delhi and Mumbai.

Anil Ambani Group firm Reliance Fuel Resources Ltd (RFRL) has approached the government seeking permission to lay a Rs 16,000 crore pipeline to take natural gas from Reliance Industries-operated field off the Andhra coast to its power plant at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh.

HT Image
HT Image

RFRL wrote to Petroleum Secretary on June 5 for permission to lay a pipeline from Kakinada to Dadri, an industry official said.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The pipeline from Kakinada, the landfall point of the gas from KG-D6 block of RIL in Krishna Godavari basin, will pass through Hyderabad and onwards to Nagpur, Bhopal, Delhi and finally reach Dadri, where an Anil Ambani Group firm is setting up a 5,600 MW power project.

The company spokesperson was not immediately available for comments.

Industry official said Anil Ambani Group had last year approached state-owned gas utility GAIL (India) Ltd for transporting gas to its power plant. GAIL had offered to transport gas from KG Basin to Dadri by using a part of the existing Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) network.

GAIL's proposed pipeline from Kakinada was to connect to HVJ pipeline system at Vijaipur in Madhya Pradesh.

Under the new scheme, the Anil Ambani Group - which is to get at least 28 million standard cubic meters per day of gas from RIL field for its power plant - is also planning to set up city gas distribution (CGD) network in cities falling on the pipeline route, especially Delhi, to supply gas for domestic and commercial use and to automobiles (CNG).

The gas would also be used for additional power plants.

RFRL would lay the pipeline in two years from the date of receiving permission.

RIL is to supply 28 mmscmd of gas to RFRL for 2.34 dollars per million British thermal unit (mBtu), a price which a section in the establishment has seen as "too low" leading to loss of revenue to the Government.

The price is half of current market price.

Elder brother Mukesh Ambani-managed Reliance Industries plans to produce 40 million standard cubic meters per day (mmscmd) of gas from Dhirubhai-1 and Dhirubhai-3 discoveries in KG-DWN-98/3 (or KG-D6) block off the Andhra coast from mid-2008.

While RIL had approached the Petroleum Ministry for a nod for the price, RFRL questioned the ministry's right to approve the price at which a producer (in this case RIL) sells gas to customers (RFRL) saying its nod was needed only for the formula or basis of pricing of gas for computing Government's share in the spoils.

The ministry has sought the opinion of upstream regulator Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, which in a letter dated May 5, 2006 stated that the proposal did not mention "the methodology followed by RIL to fix the buyer on arms-length basis" and sought clarity on pricing methodology.

Petroleum Ministry was examining the price offered by RIL and was yet to take a view, the official said.

Anil Ambani Group had this month applied for a license to set up CGD networks in Delhi and Mumbai.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On