NTPC on Friday opposed any move to increase natural gas prices, saying 100 per cent fuel oil import parity pricing of gas would result in 60 paise per unit increase in electricity generation cost. ‘‘It is being proposed to raise the gas price to 100 percent fuel oil parity—from Rs 2,850 per thousand cubic metre to Rs 5,800 per thousand cubic metre. With this the price of electricity generation would go up by at least 60 paise,’’ NTPC chairman and managing director C P Jain said.Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas is currently evaluating phased deregulation of natural gas pricing. Presently, natural gas prices are capped at Rs 2,850 per thousand cubic metres. Out of around 100,000 MW installed generating capacity, 9,500 MW capacity is gas-based where plants use natural gas as the feedstock. NTPC, the largest power generating utility in the country, has seven gas based plants with a combined installed capacity of 3,900 MW.
