RNRL accuses RIL of misleading govt

Reliance Natural Resources Ltd, part of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, accused Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries Ltd of withholding facts from the ministry of petroleum and natural gas.

"Reliance Industries is withholding full facts of the case so that it can renege (on) its gas-supply arrangement with RNRL," an RNRL statement said.

The statement said RIL was concealing the fact that RNRL's gas price was based on an arm's length transaction made in 2004.

"RIL's attempt is solely motivated by its selfish desire to secure a higher price for gas to primarily enrich itself with minimal, if any, benefit ultimately going to the ministry," the statement said.

RNRL also said RIL chose not to tell the ministry that the gas-supply arrangement between the two companies was finalised as early as the first half of 2004.

The RIL spokesperson declined to comment.

RNRL has also criticised RIL's refusal to implement the gas contract with NTPC, saying RIL was sabotaging efforts to generate over 10,000 MW power by NTPC and Reliance Energy, part of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.

The ministry recently rejected RIL's proposal to sell gas to the R-ADAG firm at $3.18 per million metric British thermal unit (mmbtu) - less than half the market price.

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