Adani’s licence request for CNG-retailing in Lucknow rejected

Oil regulator PNGRB has rejected Adani Gas Ltd’s application for the license to retail CNG in Lucknow

and instead granted the permit to a joint venture of GAIL India Ltd and Indian Oil Corp (IOC).

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) in a 15 March order said it accepts central

government authorisation to Green Gas Ltd—a joint venture of GAIL and IOC—for setting up city gas

distribution (CGD) network in Lucknow.

Adani Gas Ltd (AGL) had applied to the Board on 11 June, 2008 seeking grant of authorisation for

Lucknow CGD saying it had commenced work in Lucknow before 1 October, 2007 – the appointed day

when the regulator came into being.

Green Gas approached the regulator on 20 May, 2009 saying it had central government authorisation

for retailing CNG to automobiles and supplying piped cooking gas to households in Lucknow prior to

PNGRB coming into being on 1 October, 2007.

PNGRB however found lacunae in Adani’s claims of physical progress and money spent prior to 1

October, 2007 and so went by central government authorisation to Green Gas.

“AGL in support of its application submitted a no-objection certificate from Uttar Pradesh State

Industrial Development Corporation Ltd (UPSIDC) for development of gas distribution network in

Lucknow dated 10 February, 2006,” the order said.

The company also submitted various other statutory clearances/ permissions obtained from various

authorities. Rejecting AGL’s claim of having laid over 56% of the 53-km steel pipeline before 1 October,

2007, PNGRB said physical progress was 30.21%.

Also, “AGL did not possess the land for city gate stations (for retailing CNG) before the appointed day (1

October, 2007) and did not have the firm gas tie-up as stipulated” and so was not in compliance with

regulation, the order said.

It also found gaps in AGL’s claim of having spent 35.74% of Rs.72.74 crore financial commitment for

Lucknow.

An entity claiming to have started work prior to the establishment of PNGRB must have spent 25% of

the investment earmarked in the detailed feasibility report.

“AGL has submitted the project cost report which states that the cost of the project as per DFR is

Rs.109.24 crore in first five years of the project. (But) AGL has spent Rs.10.81 crore in the project till

appointed date, which works out to be 9.89%,” the order said.

PNGRB said the company had in its submission dated 18 August, 2015 taken the project cost only for

2007-08 to 2009-10 and not 2010-11 and 2011-12 so that their project cost comes out to be Rs.72.74

crore and not Rs.109.24 crore.

“The DFR clearly states that the first phase of project is for five years and the project cost is Rs.109.24

crore,” it said.

The regulator said investment by AGL before the appointed day in Lucknow does not meet the

requirement laid down in its rules, rejecting its application for Lucknow CGD.

NGS INDIA