ONGC-Mittal Energy Ltd -- joint venture of ONGC Videsh Ltd and Mittal Investment Sarl -- had in 2007 won the offshore block North Coast Marine Area-2 (NCMA-2), that is estimated to hold in-place reserves of two trillion cubic feet, beating Britain's Centrica Plc.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs last evening gave OVL, the overseas arm of the state-run explorer, approval to invest its share of $204 million in the oilfield. Over and above these, the two have committed a minimum exploration investment of $165 million and an additional optional exploration expenditure of $235 million.
Steel czar Lakshmi N Mittal is keen on selling half of his stake in a Kazakhstan oil field to state-run ONGC Videsh Ltd to tide over the severe financial constraint affecting his planned expansion in energy sector.
Mittal plans to set up refineries in Congo and Nigeria and is seeking a partnership with HPCL
In Mumbai, ONGC Chairman R S Sharma confirmed Mittal's pullout. OVL had anticipated such a move and had a few months back sought Cabinet approval to invest all of the $400 million in the Satpayev on its own in case Mittal walked out.
But he is actively pursuing greenfield steel plants in Karnataka and Jharkhand; ultimately, only one of these might come up.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances