NTPC not yet decided on filing petition in gas row with RIL

The state-run firm has been contemplating moving the apex court after RIL amended its petition in the Bombay High Court to say that it cannot sell gas to NTPC at the price it had bid in the 2004 tender due to Government stand on the issue.

"That is not yet decided, I think so," he told CNBC TV18 when asked if NTPC was leaning towards filing a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court on this issue.

NTPC had in December 2005 dragged RIL to the Bombay High Court seeking specific performance of the tender bid to sell 12 million standard cubic meters per day of gas at USD 2.34 per million British thermal unit to its Kawas and Gandhar expansion projects.

"My corporation is capable to take a decision (on the issue)... it is the board of directors (of NTPC) will take decision on this account," he said.

Shinde said the power ministry did not want to get involved in the bigger dispute over the right of the government to approve the price at which RIL can sell gas to consumers and decide on the gas utilisation policy.

"We do not want to come in the big dispute... we are concerned with only the NTPC problem," he said.

Shinde said gas from KG-D6 fields of RIL will not be used at NTPC's Kawas and Gandhar expansion projects till the dispute is settled in the court.

NTPC had yesterday informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that it was consulting lawyers to approach the "relevant" forum on the issue of procuring gas from Mukesh Ambani-led RIL.

The Power Minister had stated yesterday that his ministry was ready to advise NTPC on its legal battle with RIL if it was to approach them.