Global crude oil price of Indian Basket was US$ 62.61 per bbl on 24.04.2015
Global crude oil price of Indian Basket was US$ 62.61 per bbl on 24.04.2015
The international crude oil price of Indian Basket as computed/published today by Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was US$ 62.61 per barrel (bbl) on 24.04.2015. This was higher than the price of US$ 60.55 per bbl on previous publishing day of 23.04.2015.
In rupee terms, the price of Indian Basket increased to Rs 3969.47 per bbl on 24.04.2015 as compared to Rs 3826.15 per bbl on 23.04.2015. Rupee closed weaker at Rs 63.40 per US$ on 24.04.2015 as against Rs 63.19 per US$ on 23.04.2015. The table below gives details in this regard:
Daily Crude oil price- 27.04.2015
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Procurement Norms
The Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply today that the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has constituted a Steering Committee comprising of representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Commerce, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, various Oil PSUs and representatives from Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry(FICCI), Confederation of Indian Industries(CII) and Association of Oil and Gas Operators(AOGO). The actionable areas identified by the Steering Committee in short term (one year) and medium term (three years) include:
(i) Suitable amendments in the public procurement norms to mandate aggregation of requirement and local content as procurement criteria as a short term initiative. (ii) A target of indigenisation of 50% in the upstream sector in the medium term (iii) Setting up of dedicated manufacturing zones/clusters catering to Oil field services such as ship building, offshore platforms and rigs in the medium term.
The committee is also working on the identification of equipment and products in the sector which can be built domestically.
In order to meet the growing need for gas in the country, GAIL has contracted import of 3.5 MTPA of LNG from Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana and 2.3 MTPA of LNG from Cove Point terminal in Maryland, USA for an initial period of 20 years. Since, both these contracts are on FOB (Free on Board) basis, GAIL is required to make transportation arrangements for bringing LNG to India. Currently, both the contracts are effective and initial supplies are expected to commence from December 2017.
For transporting the entire 5.8 MTPA of LNG from USA to India, GAIL has initiated the process to charter hire around 11 LNG ships of size ranging between 150,000m3– 180,000m3, through an International Competitive Bidding (ICB).
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Complaints of Corruption against Petronet LNG
The Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply today that complaints regarding alleged irregularities in respect of long term Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) contracts executed by Petronet LNG Limited (PLL) for import of 7.5 MMTPA with Rasgas, Qatar and 1.44 MMTPA with Exxon Mobil Gorgon Project in Australia have been received. A Committee was constituted by the Government to enquire into the alleged irregularities and findings of the Committee are under examination in consultation with Central Vigilance Commission.
The annual turnover of PLL including profit during the last three years is as under:
Year
|
Turnover
(in Rs. crore)
|
Profit
(in Rs. crore)
|
2011-12
|
22695
|
1058
|
2012-13
|
31467
|
1149
|
2013-14
|
37747
|
711
|
Government does not hold any equity in PLL. However, the four PSUs, viz., BPCL, GAIL, IOCL and ONGC hold 12.5% equity each.
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Commission to LPG/Kerosene Dealers
The Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply today that presently, no proposal is under consideration of the Government to provide LPG agencies under Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana and expand Superior Kerosene Oil whole sellers/dealers.
With regard to LPG: No such proposal is under consideration. However, new LPG distributorship may be set up against the terminated distributorship at the same location following the normal selection procedure.
With regard to ROs: OMCs have reported that revival of closed dealerships of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are considered in line with policy in vogue.
A scheme for providing one time grant to BPL families in the rural areas for release of new LPG connection from CSR fund of ONGC, OIL, GAIL, BPCL, HPCL and IOC, through Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitaraks is in operation in the country. As per the scheme, the security deposit for one cylinder and cost of Pressure Regulator is paid from the fund created for this purpose. Further, the scheme was extended to Regular LPG distributorships also from January, 2015 till March, 2015 on a pilot basis.
A committee of Director (Marketing) of IOCL, BPCL and HPCL and Director, PPAC was constituted by the Ministry to examine the issue de-novo for the purpose of fixation of LPG distributor commission. After careful consideration of the recommendations of aforesaid Committee, Distributors’ Commission on Domestic LPG cylinders was suitable revised on 5th October, 2012. Subsequently, the Distributor’s Commission on LPG has been revised twice. Effective 23rd October, 2014, Distributor Commission on LPG cylinders is Rs 44.06 per 14.2 kg cylinder (Establishment charges: Rs.26.06 and delivery charges: Rs.18.00) and Rs.22.03 per 5.0 kg cylinder(Establishment charges: Rs.13.03 and delivery charges: Rs.9.00).
Similarly, a de-novo study in respect of Kerosene dealer commission was conducted through Nation Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), New Delhi which was further examined by the Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). After careful consideration of the recommendation of the oil industry, the rates of commission of kerosene for wholesale dealers were suitably revised on 28thDecember, 2012. Subsequently, the Kerosene dealer commission was further revised on 23rd October, 2014, as follows:
Wholesale Dealers (Form XV) - Rs 536.09/KL
Wholesale Dealers (other than Form XV) - Rs 475.58/KL
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Auto Fuel Policy
The Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply today that Government had constituted an Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri Soumitra Choudhuri, Member, Planning Commission, to draft Auto Fuel Vision and Policy 2025 with the following Terms of Reference:-
(i) Recommend road map for auto fuel quality till 2025 for the country, taking into account the achievement under the last Auto Fuel Policy, emission reduction of in-use vehicles, growth of vehicles and supply and availability of fuels.
(ii) Recommend suitable mix of auto fuels including gas and its specifications, considering the following:
a) Availability of infrastructure and logistics of fuel supplies,
b) The processing economics of Auto fuels, and
c) Improvement in the quality of fuel vis-Ã -vis improvement in vehicle engine technology.
(iii) Recommend vehicular emission norms for various categories of vehicles and roadmap for their implementation.
(iv) Recommend use of alternate fuels to minimize impact on environment.
(v) Recommend fiscal measures for funding requisite upgradation of Oil Refineries, logistics and removal of Inter-fuel distortions.
The Committee has submitted its Report to the Government. The Committee has made various recommendations including a Roadmap for phased introduction of BS-IV and BS-V Auto Fuels in the entire country.
Emission norms for various categories of motor vehicles are specified in rules 115, 115A, 115B, 115C and 115D of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989(CMVRs). For four wheeled vehicles, Bharat Stage-IV(BS-IV) emission norms have been mandated in the National Capital Region and in the cities of Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmadabad, Hyderabad (including Secundrabad), Bengaluru, Kanpur, Pune, Surat, Agra, Sholapur, Lucknow. Recently, Mass Emission Standards (BS-IV) have been made applicable in the cities of Puducherry, Mathura, Vapi, Jamnagar, Ankaleshwar, Hissar, Bharatpur, Daman Diu, Silvasa, Unnao, Rae Bareilly, Aligarh, Karnal, Valsad, Yamuna Nagar, Kurukshetra, Nizamabad, Medak and Mehboobnagar in respect of four wheeled vehicles manufactured on or after the 1st October, 2014 except the four wheeled transport vehicles plying on Inter-State Permits or National Permit or All India Tourist Permits, within the jurisdiction of the said cities. In other parts of the country, Bharat Stage-III emission norms are applicable.
As per road map given in Auto Fuel Policy, 2003, the following action has been taken:-
(i) Bharat Stage-IV(BS-IV) Auto Fuels were introduced in 13 identified major cities including Delhi and National Capital Region in the country on w.e.f 01.04.2010;
(ii) BS-III has been implemented in the rest of country in a staggered manner between April 1, 2010 to September 22, 2010.
Going beyond the Auto Fuel Policy, 2003, expansion of BS-IV fuel to additional 50 cities was done by 15.3.2015.
Further, as per road map recommended in Auto Fuel Vision & Policy, 2025 Report, a decision for availability of BS-IV fuels in the entire country by 1st April, 2017 in a phased manner, was notified vide letter dated 19.01.2015. As per road map notified, supply of BS-IV fuel has been expanded to entire north India w.e.f. 1.4.2015.
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