Plan panel not worried about Ambani's row over gas

In the midst of the high-octane legal battle between the two Ambani brothers over gas supply from KG-D6 fields, the Planning Commission today said it is not concerned about the outcome of the dispute, but only wanted to promote the use of the fuel for the power and fertiliser sectors.

"Whether it (gas) goes to brother 'A' or 'B', we are not really, at least in the Planning Commission, very much concerned with that. We are concerned with promoting use of this gas for the power sector," said Planning Commission member B K Chaturvedi, who had served as Petroleum Secretary after the New Exploration and Licencing Policy was introduced in 1998.

"As far as we are concerned, the entire gas is available to the country. It will be used for power and fertiliser sectors in the country. As the production (of gas) goes up, I am sure the utilisation (of gas) will also go up", he told reporters on sidelines of a CII event.

As per the Memorandum of Understanding between RIL and RNRL, RNRL was to get 28 million standard cubic meters per day of gas from KG-D6 at $2.34 per mmBtu, a price 44 per cent lower than the government-fixed rates.

The rest of the volumes from KG-D6 and other RIL fields (after giving 12 mmscmd to NTPC), was to be split between the Mukesh and Anil in 60:40 ratio.