Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Infrastructure has urged the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry to immediately stop Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) from charging marketing margin on gas charging RIL was not sharing the revenue and diverting crores of rupees of government’s share.
In a letter to the Petroleum Secretary, R. S. Pandey, Reliance Infrastructure Vice-President Kamal Kant also sought to know whether RIL was entitled to charge the marketing margin despite the fact that RIL was not sharing this part of sales consideration with the government.
“Thus, several crores of rupees that would belong to the government are being diverted by RIL,” he wrote in the letter.
Demanding an early resolution to the issue that whether Reliance Industries was justified to charge the marketing margin, Mr. Kant said: “You are requested to advise RIL to act in terms of the Bombay High Court order and continue to supply gas on payment of $4.2 per mBtu”.
The letter comes close on the heels of the Power Secretary, H. S. Brahma, questioning the marketing margin being charged by RIL.
Referring to the threat by RIL to suspend gas supply to Reliance Infrastructure on account of default in payment, the company has informed the Petroleum Ministry that RIL was not entitled to suspend the Gas Sale Purchase Agreement (GSPA), as it was continuing to pay the sale price of $4.2 per mBtu.
“The issue as to whether RIL is justified and entitled to charge a marketing margin is required to be expeditiously resolved.
‘RIL’s violation’
“RIL has not undertaken any marketing and it was violating the High Court order and the Empowered Group of Ministers’ (EGoM) decision as it was permitted to sell gas as an interim measure at $4.2 per mBtu.
“RIL has not undertaken any marketing and the said charge is essentially a part of sales consideration which is not shared with the government. Hence, RIL is not authorised to charge the same,” said Mr. Kant.
Seeks to know whether RIL is entitled to charge the marketing margin
