The Auto Fuel Policy gives a roadmap for upgradation of the quality of auto fuels (Petrol and Diesel) to Bharat Stage (BS) IV in 13 identified cities (Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad including Secunderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur, Agra, Solapur and Lucknow) and BS-III in the rest of the country effective from 1st April, 2010. Accordingly, supply of BS-IV Petrol and Diesel commenced from 1st April, 2010 in all 13 identified cities as per the roadmap laid out in Auto Fuel Policy. BS-III fuels were introduced in the country in a phased manner completed on 22nd September 2010.
Efforts are being made to progressively expand coverage of BS-IV fuels with introduction of these fuels in 50 more cities by 2015. An ‘Industry Group of Officers’ has been formed with representatives from IOCL, BPCL and HPCL. The Group will identify these additional cities considering the pollution levels and the vehicle population. Inclusion of all State Capitals and cities with population of more than one crore will be emphasized while selecting the additional cities for extension of BS-IV auto fuels. In the first phase, the Group identified seven cities for extension of BS-IV fuels during the year 2011-12; out of which it has been introduced in Puducherry city and Mathura.
Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitaran Yojana
The ‘Vision-2015’ adopted for LPG sector, inter-alia, focuses on raising the population coverage of LPG with the focus on rural areas and areas where LPG coverage is low. The Vision-2015 aims to achieve 75% population coverage in the country by releasing 5.5 crore new LPG connections by 2015 especially in rural areas and under-covered areas.
As the urban centres are, more or less, covered by the LPG network, future growth envisaged under the Vision-2015 will be concentrated in the rural/under-covered areas.
As a step towards this direction, the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitaran Yojana (RGGLVY) for small size LPG distribution agencies has been launched on 16.10.2009. Salient features of the scheme are:
The LPG agencies under RGGLVY will be of small size requiring lesser finance/infrastructure.
The distributor himself will manage the agency with the help of his/her family member and one or more employees.
Age limit for distributor to be between 21 and 45 years.
All agencies under this scheme to be in the joint name of husband and wife. In case of applications who are single the ‘spouse’ will automatically become a partner after the marriage.
Reservation for SC/ST category has also been provided for.
The selection of the distributor would be by draw of lots from amongst all candidates who have secured more than 80% marks on the criteria of financial capability and education qualifications.
To ensure that growth of LPG usage is evenly spread, PSU Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are assessing/identifying locations in a phased manner under RGGLVY. Advertisements inviting applications for distributorships under the scheme have been released by OMCs in 26 States, namely Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, west Bengal and puducherry covering 3758 locations. Letters of Intents (LOI) have been issued for 1377 locations out of which 782 distributors have already been commissioned. Selection for the rest of the locations is in progress as per policy.
New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP)
New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) was formulated in 1997-98 which provides a level playing field to the private investors including foreign companies by giving them the same fiscal and contract terms as applicable to National Oil Companies (NOCs) for the exploration acreages offered. NELP became effective in February, 1999. blocks are offered under NELP bid rounds through international competitive bidding system on the basis of transparent and quantifiable Bid Evaluation Criteria (BEC) indicated in Notice Inviting Offers (NIO). Under NELP, so far, eight round of bids have been concluded and Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) for 235 exploration blocks have been signed.
In order to harness the hydrocarbon potential of the country, the ninth round of NELP (NELP-IX) was launched on 15th October, 2010 in New Delhi. A total of 34 blocks (8 deep water blocks, 7 shallow water blocks and 19 on-land blocks) covering an area of 88,807 sq. km were offered under NELP-IX. Bids were opened on 28th March, 2011. A total of 74 bids have been received for 33 blocks out of 34 blocks offered for bidding. Evaluation of bids and meeting of Empowered Committee of Secretaries (ECS) is in progress. A close monitoring on the progress is being maintained. The process of award of blocks and signing of Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) under NELP-IX will be concluded by March, 2012.
Shale Gas
Shale Gas can emerge as important new source of energy in the country. India has several Shale formations which seem to hold Shale Gas. The Shale Gas formations are spread over several sedimentary basins such as Cambay, Gondwana, Krishna-Godawari on-land and Cauvery.
A breakthrough in technology in the area of Shale Gas has been achieved in USA. Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with USA during the visit of President of USA to India in November, 2010 for cooperation in the field of Shale Gas assessment and development. As per the MOU, United States Geological Survey (USGS) has been assisting in carrying out resource assessment for Cambay, KG, Cauvery and Damodar basins. (PIB Feature).
Inputs from the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/promoting-environmental-common-man-friendly-policies/
