Deora for another eGoM on gas to new customers

Amid the ongoing dispute over K-G D6 gas supply and pricing,the petroleum minister Murli Deora has made a strong plea for the reconstitution of an empowered group of ministers (eGoM) to decide on allocation of gas to new customers. Deora told the FE eGoM was necessary for the allocation of further 40 million metric standard cubic meter per day (mmscmd) of K-G D6 gas. Previous eGoM headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had allocated about 40 mmscmd of gas from KGD6 to customers in fertiliser,power,LPG,CGD and steel sector. The eGoM in September 7 fixed the K-G D6 gas price at $4.20 per million British thermal unit without prejudice to the ongoing dispute between NTPC and RIL.Deora has despatched a letter in this regard to the Cabinet secretary and also met the Prime Ministers principal secretary,TKA Nair. Similar demand has also been made by the power ministry. The power sector be allocated gas on a priority from the balance 40 mmscmd to various independent power projects and captive power projects. RIL,in its recent letter to the petroleum ministry said,it has signed gas sale purchase agreements (GSPAs) with all these customers except NTPC (2.7 mmscmd).