RIL dismisses ONGC's gas 'theft' claim

"We deny the claim of apparent 'theft' of gas from G4 & KG DWN 98/2 Block by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and can only attribute it to the likelihood of some elements in ONGC misleading the new CMD, Mr Sarraf, in order to hide their own failure to develop  discoveries made over the last 13 years in these blocks," RIL said in a statement.

 

"ONGC approached RIL in mid-2012, to examine the possibility of sharing RIL’s KG D6 infrastructure in order to commercialize some of the discoveries in these blocks and an  MoU was signed between RIL & ONGC in July 2013," it said.

 

RIL said the company continued to see ONGC as a valued Industry peer.

 

"We  continue to see ONGC as a  valued Industry peer, worthy of collaboration, to whom we will continue to provide  assistance to help develop its discoveries  and start production of valuable gas locked  beneath the Indian Ocean to the benefit of the people of India," read the statement.

 

RIL said: "It was only in August 2013, that ONGC brought the issue of possible connectivity between reservoirs in RIL & ONGC blocks, to the notice of RIL through DGH.  Since then, as per international practice, ONGC and RIL have been engaged in the process of appointing an independent agency to investigate the issue of possible reservoir connectivity across the blocks."

 

"The two had met on May 9, 2014 and exchanged drafts regarding the scope of work to be assigned to such agency.  On May 23, the parties again met and finalized the enquiry notice to be sent to four agreed international expert agencies.  It was decided to issue the Enquiry Notice on May 26, 2014.  Since the process for appointing this agency as per international practice was already well underway it is indeed unfortunate that some elements in ONGC forced invocation of the Delhi High Court at this juncture," it said.