NTPC seeks EGoM meet on gas allocation soon

Seeking immediate supply of gas from RIL-operated K-G basin for expansion of its plants, state-run NTPC has asked the Centre to convene the ministerial meet on gas allocation soon.

NTPC has also asked the government that its case be considered separately from gas demanded by Anil Ambani-led RNRL which recently lost a case in the Supreme Court for cheaper gas Mukesh Ambani-led RIL, sources said.

NTPC's demand comes amid Ambani brothers announcing a truce, weeks after the Supreme Court rejected Anil Ambani Group company RNRL's plea for cheaper gas from Mukesh-led Reliance Industries' D6 block in Krishna-Godavari basin.NTPC is fighting a legal battle seeking that RIL fulfils its commitment to supply gas to the state-run company's Kawas and Gandhar expansion plants.

The power Ministry is of the view that RIL-NTPC is a separate case from RIL-RNRL issue and should be dealt with accordingly. According to sources, the Power Ministry has prepared an agenda paper to support NTPC's case."It is a separate case and should be dealt with separately," the sources said.

The government in December 2009 filed its affidavit in the Supreme Court on the gas row between the Ambani brothers saying that the arrangement for public sector NTPC cannot be equated with any agreement between Reliance Industries Limited and Reliance Natural Resources Limited.NTPC had floated a global tender inviting bids for supplying gas for its expansion plants at Kawas and Gandhar in Gujarat. RIL quoted a price of $2.34 per mmBtu for supplying 12 MMSCMD gas for 17 years.