The CAG Charges
- Undue concessions in extensions and area granted to operators of India's three major oil and gas blocks: Reliance's K-G Basin, Cairn Energy's Rajasthan block; Panna-Mukta-Tapti JV
- Lack of proper appraisal and monitoring of work programmes; permitting operators to flaunt field development schedules
- Norms relating to high-value procurements violated, costs escalated without prior approvals
- Flaws in PSC: no incentive for operator to minimise costs, as higher the capital investment, lower the government share of profit petroleum
- Present system of bidding, awarding blocks unrealistic; need system to protect govt interest
***
Likely Outcome
- Difficult to put a number on the "gold plating" charge, with many factors at play
- Puts Murli Deora in the spotlight on the eve of a cabinet reshuffle; much depends on opposition role
- Would intensify focus on lower production from Reliance's K-G block; may delay approval for BP deal
- Is likely to intensify opposition to Cairn-Vedanta deal in its present form
- ONGC may come under scrutiny in one JV
- CAG may dilute its report after Petromin's responses
***
It could have been from the porous petroleum ministry, deeply infiltrated by companies of all persuasions. Or even perhaps from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) itself. But it really doesn't matter who leaked the CAG's draft report of the probe into the private sector operations of three major oil and gas producing blocks. The report vindicates the oft-repeated charge that exploration majors were being allowed to inflate costs to the detriment of the national exchequer. And that portends more trouble for the Manmohan Singh government, which is already grappling with a series of scams.
Two copies of the draft report—which looks into the operation (2006-07 and 2007-08) of Reliance Industries' Krishna-Godavari basin gas block, Cairn Energy's Rajasthan oil block and Reliance-ONGC-BG joint operations of Panna-Mukta-Tapti oil and gas fields—had been sent to the petroleum ministry. The latter had to respond to the charges raised, including lack of proper monitoring. As per norms, only after receiving these responses and an "exit meeting" with the ministry does the CAG finalise its report for placing in Parliament.
Now that the cat is out of the bag—albeit prematurely—everyone's examining the fallout on big business and politics. At the top of the list is Mukesh Ambani's RIL (whose shares are now trading at a two-year low). Remember, it was Anil Ambani's charge (at the time of the court battle over K-G gas) of gold-plating against his elder brother that triggered the probe in the first place. The report will undoubtedly cast some shadow on the RIL's exploration practices, oft projected to be of global standards.
An immediate fallout of the CAG report could be a delay in Reliance's efforts to get the final nod for its bid to rope in BP as an exploration partner. The home ministry clearance of BP as joint venture partner earlier this month has come couched with concerns about the impact of the partnership on state-run GAIL due to competition on pipeline infrastructure. Similarly, this report could further delay approvals for Cairn Energy's plans to sell its stake to Vedanta. These have been held back due to its partner ONGC and the petroleum ministry insisting that the UK-based company should first resolve royalty payment issues.
Politically, this puts the spotlight on Murli Deora—the man the Ambani brothers dub "uncle". The probe examines the period when the petroleum ministry was under Deora's watch. It's interesting that Deora was moved out of the petroleum ministry early this year and handed over the corporate affairs ministry portfolio. His petroleum secretary S. Sundareshan too was shifted out last month. Privately, there is considerable support for the report, with some within the Congress stating, "CAG has done a good job". Coming ahead of an expected cabinet reshuffle, the CAG report could have an impact on Deora's future.
For a government banking on RIL's K-G basin block—India's biggest gas find in decades—to fuel growth and reduce import dependence through production of up to 120 million metric standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) over the next few years, the CAG report is a harsh reality check. Coming at a time when D-6 production seems set to decline further (RIL says they require better technology and financial infusion to reverse the trend), the government can no longer brush aside concerns that there are many laxities in the exploration sector.
Without quantifying the loss, the CAG draft report voices concerns about diminishing government returns and revenue loss under the present production sharing contract (PSC), which offers no incentive to operators to minimise costs. The government auditor has charged both the ministry and the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) of not showing "adequate intention to protection—at every stage of E&P, be it exploration, development or production—of the GoI's financial interests".
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That said, it's early days yet. Planning Commission member B.K. Chaturvedi cautions, "To jump to conclusions based on the draft is unfair unless the ministry's views are also examined." As the final CAG report takes into account official clarifications, some of the issues raised in the draft may get diluted. Chaturvedi points out that among the policy issues raised by CAG, there are some like the PSC—originally framed in 1995 by the Vijay Kelkar panel in consultation with Commonwealth experts—that is not wholly justified.
While the charges of "padding" cost may be valid, Chaturvedi feels that without proper technical assessment and a case-by-case study it is difficult to establish the quantum of gold-plating. On the charge of leeway that condoned delays, Chaturvedi adds it will also have to be probed on a case-by-case basis.
Underlining that the CAG report has rightfully brought out the "huge revenue ramification", S. Gurumurthy of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch asks, "Where is the opposition to Ambanis? If Sonia Gandhi is going on an Ambani plane, then which official will have guts to scrutinise what Ambani is doing?"
Considering the BJP's reluctance to comment on the subject, the Ambani support base seems to have few political barriers. Not so, stresses Nilotpal Basu, member of the CPI(M) central secretariat, who talks about concerns raised about the escalating cost in the D-6 block of Reliance. "What is disturbing is the non-response of the PM even now when the shortage of gas has very serious ramification," says Basu. Irrespective of how the politics plays out, this 'zero-tolerance-to-corruption' government has some deep exploration work ahead.
AUTHORS: LOLA NAYAR
PEOPLE: AMBANIS | MUKESH AMBANI | MURLI DEORA
TAGS: CAG | RELIANCE INDUSTRIES | OIL-GAS-FUEL | ONGC | UPA | CONGRESS
SECTION: BUSINESS
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JUN 23, 2011 09:02 PM 37 | Corrupt congress with greedy businessmen makes a splendid combination. Wholesale misuse of the countries resources so that BULTIbillionaires with their SHELEBRITEE wives can flaunt their wealth at MUMBAI parties and build BILLION dollar houses and shit in golden loos.WAH WAH MERA BHARAT BAHUT MAHAAN |
JUN 23, 2011 02:47 PM 36 | This government taxes every thing consume including mediclaim and LIC and give tax free capital gains for black money thru mauritus route and zero tax to infra companies. Mukesh is creation of corrupt system and once lokpal comesup his kind of people will spend time in courts and possibly jail. |
JUN 23, 2011 09:46 AM 35 | # 33 " ...India is a banana republic ..." Just wait for the MOTHER of all royal screws when the Women reservation Bill passed by the NAC ( under the Italian Gandhi ) is passed by MMS ( obviously through buying male votes ) FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS AT LEAST, THE SLEEPING MEN WILL BECOME SUBJUGATED BY THE NAC LAWS! |
JUN 21, 2011 12:35 PM 34 | Most Indian Udhyogpatis are products of Udhyog Bhawan of license Raj times manipulating their way up. But old habits die hard. Fortunately for them their patrons will always be there. Its disgusting. |
JUN 21, 2011 01:48 AM 33 | The Tatas , Ambanis and other industrialists who fill the coffers of all parties in India will go scot free. DLF gave a unsecured loan to Robert Vadra and nothing has happened on that. The BJP is not making an issue of the DLF loan leave alone Mukesh Ambani. The Tatas have taken land from IIT chenna and no one talks about it. The Mahindras are have acquired wet land for sez and and instead of building industries is buildind oroprerty and is circumventing the law by selling them on perpetual lease withou registration. This country is being looted by the Polticians, Busineesmen and Criminals in the garb of politcal leader. The media particulalry the tevision media is sold out to S.G . India is a banana republic and the sooner we accept this fact the better for all of us. |
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