New Delhi: Petroleum Ministry on Sunday refuted Anil Ambani Group firm RNRL's charge of approving of Reliance Industries levying marketing margin on gas sales, saying payment of any charge beyond the Government approved gas price was purely commercial arrangement between sellers and buyers.
"Our role is restricted to only to approving the price of
gas at the landfall point and fixing its usage according to
the Gas Utilisation Policy. Marketing margin if any are purely
commercial arrangement between the seller and the buyer and we
have nothing to do with it," a senior ministry official said.
RNRL had alleged that RIL was illegally levying a
marketing margin on sale of gas from its eastern offshore
KG-D6 fields.
"RNRL in their statement have themselves stated that
Petroleum Ministry has categorically denied giving permission
to RIL to charge any such marketing margin. If anyone or any
buyer has grievance over the issue there are appropriate
forums (like courts) to appeal," he said.
"RIL is not a public sector company that we administer so
how can we stop them for entering into commercial contracts.
It's for the consumers to do that."
"More than 35 companies have signed gas purchase
contracts with RIL and none has stated that they are paying
the marketing margin under protest. If they are aggrieved they
can approach appropriate forum," he said.
"It has become fashionable to use Petroleum Ministry as
punching bag. Please understand issues before making such
charges," the official added.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, September 13, 2009, 22:05