RPT-India sees Cairn Vedanta royalty costs as recoverable
Tue Mar 29, 2011 2:29am GMT Print | Single Page[-] Text [+] ONGC holds a 30 percent stake in Cairn-operated Rajasthan fields in western India but pays royalties on the entire output. It has said it wants the royalty issue to be resolved at the earliest, and had earlier even threatened to block the planned deal. [ID:nLDE70T0FW]
India's oil ministry has maintained it has nothing against the deal but it would strive to protect ONGC's interests. India's cabinet is expected to discuss the transaction this week.
"We have taken inputs from law and finance (ministries) and along with their input cabinet note has been circulated," Reddy said.
"It is to be considered by CCEA. It may be taken up any time now."
Last week, Cairn's Chief Executive Bill Gammell said he expected the company to receive approvals for the deal by April 15, the deadline set by both companies to seal the transaction. [ID:nLDE72K1KO]
An approval by the oil ministry is crucial for completion of the biggest merger and acquisition deal in the Indian oil sector and could boost investor sentiment in Asia's third-biggest economy.
India failed to woo global players in its latest oil and gas exploration licensing round due to its relatively weak track record of commercial discoveries and sluggish bureaucracy, with most of the 33 blocks going to domestic players. [ID:nL3E7ES1A4]
India, the world's fourth-largest oil importer, expects investments of $14 billion in this licensing round, which includes eight deepwater blocks, seven shallow water and 19 onshore. In its previous eight rounds of auctions New Delhi has awarded 235 blocks. [ID:nDEB000104] (Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Writing by Prashant Mehra; Editing by Aradhana Aravindan; Editing by Louise Heavens)