Govt cuts natural gas prices by 16% to $4.24 per unit

On gross calorific value basis, the new gas price would be $3.82 per mmBtu

The government today cut natural gas prices by 16% to $4.24 per unit for the six month period, beginning October 1.

Natural gas prices, according to a formula approved by the government in October last year, will fall to $4.24 per million British thermal unit on net calorific value (NCV) basis from the current $5.50 per mmBtu.

On gross calorific value (GCV) basis, the new gas price for October 1 to March 31 would be $3.82 per mmBtu as compared to $4.66 currently, officials said.

Using prevailing price in gas surplus nations like the US, Russia and Canada, the government had in October last year announced a new pricing formula that led to rates rising by about 33% to $5.61 per mmBtu for a period up to March 31, 2015 from the long-standing price of $4.2.

The rates, on net calorific value (NCV) basis, dropped to $5.05 per mmBtu for six month period beginning April 1, 2015.

The price cut is the second reduction in rates ever - the first being on April 1.

While the cut will impact the revenue of producers like Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and Reliance Industries, it will bring gains for users in the power and fertiliser sector in the form of lower feedstock cost.

As per the mechanism approved in October 2014, price of domestically produced natural gas is to be revised every six months using weighted average or rates prevalent in gas-surplus economies of US/Mexico, Canada and Russia to incentivise exploration in deep-sea that wasn't viable at $4.2 rate.