Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said he would broach the subject fuel pricing with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later on Wednesday when he meets him to discuss the health of oil companies. "Of course,prices will be discussed. if you review the financial health of oil companies,this (pricing) is a subject that will come up for discussion," he said in New Delhi. A source had said that "Petroleum Ministry is likely to propose deregulation of petrol prices and gradual phasing out of subsidies on diesel to ease burden on public sector oil marketing companies" - indicating a possible hike of Rs 3 per litre in petrol rates. The government has not allowed Indian Oil,Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum to raise rates of petrol,diesel,domestic LPG and kerosene despite the cost of raw material (crude oil) jumping to USD 82 per barrel. The three firms are projected to lose Rs 44,300 crore in revenues on fuel sale this fiscal. The three firms sell petrol at a loss of Rs 3.06 a litre,diesel at Rs 1.56 per litre,kerosene at a loss of Rs 17.23 per litre and LPG at a discount of Rs 299.01 a cylinder.
