Reliance energy, partners bag 4 of 10 blocks under CBM-111

New Delhi, Nov 7 (UNI) Reliance Energy Limited (REL) and consortium partners today bagged four out of the ten blocks, the highest such offering in the county for exploration of Coal Bed Methane gas whose commercial production will start next year.

Speaking after signing contracts, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora said '' India will become one of the few selected countries which would have taken concerete steps to tap CBM for commercial application''.

Mr Deora said the centre will interact with the relevant ministries and state governments to expedite the work programme of the contractors with whom the contracts were being signed.

The CBM-111 includes two blocks each in Andhra Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajsthan and one each in Jharkand and West Bengal. The estimated CBM resources in these blocks is about 635 billion cubic meters.

The government had receieved 54 bids for all 10 blocks by the bid clposing date on June 30/2006. A total of 26 companies, including eight foreign companies and 18 Indian companies had bid either on their own or as consortia. All the blocks attracted multiple bids.

The bids were evaluated by the Director General Hydrocarbons (DGH).

The government approved award of all the 10 blocks.

The RM-CBM-2005/111 in Rajmahal, Jharkand was awarded to Arrow Energy (India) Pvt Ltd (Arrow), Gail-Energy Infrastructure Group (EIG) and Tata Power Company Limited (TATA).

The BB-CBM-2005/111 in Birbhum in West Bengal went to BP Exploration (Alpha) Limited (BPE).

The TR-CBM-2005/111 in Tatapani-Ramkola, Chhatisgarh was awarded to Arrow -Gail, EIG and Tata.

The MR-CBM-2005/111 in Mand-Raigarh, Chhatisgarh went to Arrow-Gail and EIG consortia.

The SP (North)-CBM situated in Sohagpur, MP went to Reliance Energy Limited (REL)-Reliance Natural Resources Limited (RNRL) and GeoPetrol International.

The SR-CBM-2005/111 at Singrauli, MP has been bagged by Coalgas Mart (Coalgas)-Deep industries Limited (DIL).

The KG(E)-CBM 2005/111 in Kothagudem, in Andhra was awarded to REL-RNRL and Geo Petrol International.

The BS (5)-CBM-2005/111 in BArmer, Rajasthan went to REL-RNRL and GeoPetrol International Inc.

The BS (5) CBM-2005 in Barmer went to REL-RNRL Geopetrol and GV (North)-CBM-2005/111 in Godavari north in Andhra has been awarded to Coalgas-DIL, Adinath Exim resources ltd (ADINATH).

The contract was negotiated with all the awardees and has been concluded in respect of nine blocks while negotiations are underway with BP Exploration Ltd for the block BB-CBM/2005/111.

UNI RT CS DB1847