Indian Power Ministry eyes more PMT gas

NEW DELHI, March 28 (UPI) -- India's Power Ministry has asked the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for half the gas from the Panna-Mukta-Tapti gas fields.

The fields are operated jointly by state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp., Reliance Industries Ltd. and British Gas.

The ministry has noted that gas should not be used to make petrochemicals when a gas shortage is hampering state-owned NTPC's ability to produce more power.

Power Secretary Anil Razdan wrote to Petroleum Secretary M.S. Srinivasan saying unlike fertilizers and petrochemicals, electricity cannot be imported to meet the shortfall and its shortage affects the quality of life and hits industrial sectors across the board. This is an indirect reference to consortium partner Reliance, which itself consumes about 3.6 mcmd of PMT gas to feed its petrochemicals plants.