ONGC seeks nod to dump methane blocks
ONGC has officially applied to the government for relinquishing three of its coal-bed methane blocks - at Satpura in Madhya Pradesh, Vardha in Maharashtra and Barmer Sanchor in Rajasthan - that it had won under Nelp.
By Debjoy Sengupta, ET Bureau |
KOLKATA: ONGC has officially applied to the government for relinquishing three of its coal-bed methane blocks ��� at Satpura in Madhya Pradesh, Vardha in Maharashtra and Barmer Sanchor in Rajasthan ��� that it had won under Nelp.
Confirming the development, a senior ONGC official said: ���Although we applied to the government sometime ago for relinquishing these blocks, the Centre has not yet responded. We are still waiting for the clearance.���
The oil and gas major had won the blocks under Nelp, or the New Exploration Licensing Policy, in 2003. ���Results of the exploration were not found to be exciting and we decided to relinquish these blocks,��� the official said.
Interestingly, the oil major has found encouraging results at new locations in Jharia. ���We have made a breakthrough in two areas adjacent to the existing location in Jharia. These are Jharia 5 and Jharia 6 regions over an area of about 30 sq km,��� an ONGC official said.
Incidentally, ONGC has been asked by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas to vacate the existing location for gas collecting stations at the Jharia coal-bed methane block and set them up at least four kilometre away. The company was in an advanced stages of setting up the collection units at Jharia.
���Electrosteel Casting, which was also awarded a coal block on the same location, has already started mining in the area as a result of which we were asked to move,��� the official added.
Confirming the development, a senior ONGC official said: ���Although we applied to the government sometime ago for relinquishing these blocks, the Centre has not yet responded. We are still waiting for the clearance.���
The oil and gas major had won the blocks under Nelp, or the New Exploration Licensing Policy, in 2003. ���Results of the exploration were not found to be exciting and we decided to relinquish these blocks,��� the official said.
Interestingly, the oil major has found encouraging results at new locations in Jharia. ���We have made a breakthrough in two areas adjacent to the existing location in Jharia. These are Jharia 5 and Jharia 6 regions over an area of about 30 sq km,��� an ONGC official said.
Incidentally, ONGC has been asked by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas to vacate the existing location for gas collecting stations at the Jharia coal-bed methane block and set them up at least four kilometre away. The company was in an advanced stages of setting up the collection units at Jharia.
���Electrosteel Casting, which was also awarded a coal block on the same location, has already started mining in the area as a result of which we were asked to move,��� the official added.
Start a SIP with as low as ₹500 with ET Money App!
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
