Update: Award of oil blocks to RIL, ONGC reversed

An empowered committee of secretaries (ECS) today overruled recommendations of regulator Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) on award of exploration blocks under NELP-VI.

It has instead favoured allotting 12 blocks to state-run oil firm ONGC.

The DGH in its recommendation for award of blocks offered in the sixth round of auction under the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NLEP) had opined against awarding 12 deep sea blocks to ONGC due to its "poor" track record.

However, the ECS, comprising representatives of the ministries of petroleum, finance and law, did not agree with its suggestions.

The consortium of ONGC-GSPC-HPCL-GAIL was clear winner in 11 deep sea blocks while ONGC-Cairn India Ltd-Tata were ranked number one in a Kerala-Konkan basin block.