Assam industry ministry Chandra Mohan Patowary on Friday said that the state government is keen to increase its share in NRL and the BPCL’s stake in the Numaligarh-based refinery should be given to OIL.
He took up the issue at the National Conclave on Emerging Opportunities in Natural Gas Sector in New Delhi.
The minister said Assam government’s shareholding in Numaligarh Refinery should be hiked to 26 per cent from present 12 per cent.
“For this, the State government is willing to pay the required amount which is around Rs 1,400 crore,” Patowary said.
The Centre has clarified that NRL will remain in the public sector and the proposed BPCL disinvestment programme will exclude the firm’s share in Numaligarh.
The Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited presently has 61.65 per cent stake in NRL, Assam government has 12.35 per cent and OIL has 26 per cent.
The minister further called for providing gas pricing subsidy for imported gas supply.
He also called for gas price subsidy to Assam Petrochemicals Limited (APL).
Patowary also requested the Central government to provide 40 per cent subsidy in the price of natural gas to be supplied through the Northeast Gas Grid (NGG) project.
NEGG is implemented by the Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL) for price viability for the targeted customers as well as for attracting large scale industrial investments.