The Hindu Business Line : `Natural gas output to double by 2009'

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New Delhi Feb. 10 The Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Mr Murli Deora, has informed the Parliamentary Consultative Committee (PCC) attached to his Ministry that with exploration and development efforts made under NELP, natural gas production in the country is likely to be doubled from about 95 million cubic metre per day to over 190 million cubic metre per day by March 2009.

In addition, Coal Bed Methane (CBM) is expected to be produced in India in 2007-08, thus, the country will join the select club of countries that commercially produce CBM, he informed the Committee at a meeting in Bhubaneswar. CBM gas production is envisaged as 3.78 billion cubic metres, or about 10 million cubic metres per day. The Government has signed contracts for 26 blocks covering an area of 13,600 sq. km. The total committed investment in these blocks is of the order of Rs 675 crore. As on April 1, 2006, the operating companies in CBM blocks have already invested Rs 170 crore, he said.

In just four blocks, over six TCF of gas reserves have been established. According to an official communiqué issued here today, referring to the meeting's agenda "Energy Security", Mr Deora elaborated various steps taken towards achieving the goal of energy security. Under NELP, 37 oil and gas discoveries have already been made in Cambay onland, North East Coast and Krishna-Godavari deepwater areas, for which, development plans by the operators — Cairn, Reliance Industries and Niko are in progress.

In five rounds of bidding under NELP, Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) for 110 exploration blocks have been signed in addition to 28 exploration blocks signed prior to NELP. Winners for as many as 52 blocks were announced on February 8 for which PSCs will be signed soon.

Mr Deora also spoke about efforts to harness alternative sources such as bio-diesel and ethanol. Speaking about the steps to check adulteration for ensuring supply of pure products and also to check diversion of subsidised kerosene, he said Government has advised the oil marketing companies to introduce marker in adulterants.