Bids and awards of blocks for CBD-111 finalised; Cabinet

New Delhi, Sep 29 (UNI) Reliance Energy Limited (REL) is a recommended bidder in four out of the 10 blocks which the government today approved for the finalisation of bids and award of blocks for the third round of Coal Bed Methane (CBM-111) a move that would kick off another round of exploration of gas to be made finally available as a source of commercial energy in the country.

The other main contenders are Arrow Energy (India) pvt Ltd-Gail India combine in four other CBM blocks.

The bank gurantee for the minimum work programe will be based on the cost estimates by the Directorate general of Hydrocarbons (DGH) in respcet of all 10 blocks.

The cost estimates to be taken up for the purpose of bank guarantee will be higher of the DGH cost estimates or budget estimates of the contractors presented by them to the Steering Committee.

''The award of blocks will increase CBM gas availability as a source of commercial energy in the country,'' Finance Minister P. Chidamabaram told reporters after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) meeting.

Following are the blocks and the recommneded bidders, RM-CBM-2005/III -- Arrow Energy (India) Pvt Ltd (ARROW) - GAIL India Ltd (GAIL) - EIG Energy Infrastructure Group A B (EIG)- Tata Power Company Limited (TATA) BB-CBM-2005/III-- BP Exploration (Alpha) Limited (BPE) TR-CBM-2005/III -- Arrow Energy (India) Pvt Ltd (ARROW) - GAIL India Ltd (GAIL) - EIG Energy Infrastructure Group A B (EIG)- Tata Power Company Limited (TATA) MR-CBM-2005/III Arrow Energy (India) Pvt Ltd (ARROW) - GAIL India Ltd (GAIL) - EIG Energy Infrastructure Group A B (EIG) SP (North) -CBM-2005/III Reliance Energy Limited (REL) - Reliance Natural Resources Limited (RNRL) - GeoPetrol International Inc.

SR-CBM-2005/III Coalgas Mart Llc (Coalgas) - Deep Industries Limited (DIL) KG(E)-CBM-2005/III Reliance Energy Limited (REL) - Reliance Natural Resources Limited (RNRL) - GeoPetrol International Inc.

BS(4)-CBM-2005/III Reliance Energy Limited (REL)-Reliance Natural Resources Limited (RNRL) - GeoPetrol International Inc.

BS(5)-CBM-2005/III Reliance Energy Limited (REL) - Reliance Natural Resources Limited (RNRL) - GeoPetrol International Inc.

GV(North)-CBM-2005/III Coalgas Mart Llc (Coalgas) - Deep Industries Limited (DIL) - Adinath Exim Resources Ltd (Adinath) UNI RT PDM RK2145