News for 'upstream'

Reliance sells stake in US shale gas assets for $250m

Reliance sells stake in US shale gas assets for $250m

Rediff.com4 Feb 2021

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd has sold its stake in the shale gas asset in the US to Northern Oil and Gas Inc for USD 250 million, the firm said on Thursday.

RIL to spin off oil-to-chemical biz into separate arm with $25bn loan

RIL to spin off oil-to-chemical biz into separate arm with $25bn loan

Rediff.com23 Feb 2021

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries has announced the contours of carving out of its oil-to-chemicals (O2C) business into an independent unit with a USD 25 billion loan from the parent, as it looks to unlock value by selling stakes to global investors like Saudi Aramco.

Projects that harm Joshimath should be stopped: Badrinath head priest

Projects that harm Joshimath should be stopped: Badrinath head priest

Rediff.com15 Jan 2023

Talking to PTI, he said the development works should be implemented by protecting the lives of the people.

Govt doubles gas price to record levels; CNG rates may go up

Govt doubles gas price to record levels; CNG rates may go up

Rediff.com31 Mar 2022

The government on Thursday more than doubled the price of natural gas that is used to produce electricity, make fertilisers, turned into CNG and piped to household kitchens for cooking, on the back of a spike in global energy prices. The price of gas produced from old regulated fields, such as the nation's largest gas field of Bassein of ONGC, will rise to a record high of $6.10 per million British thermal unit (mmBtu) from the current $2.90 per mmBtu, according to the oil ministry's Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC). The new price, which is likely to result in a hike in CNG and piped cooking gas rates, will be for six months beginning April 1.

Stakes rise for bauxite blocks in Odisha on Adani Group's entry

Stakes rise for bauxite blocks in Odisha on Adani Group's entry

Rediff.com25 Aug 2022

The next auction for bauxite blocks in Odisha may see heightened interest with Adani Group charting an entry into alumina refining and existing players looking to boost capacity. Hemant Sharma, principal secretary, Odisha industries department, said that three bauxite blocks have been scheduled for auctions this year. Adani Group - which will be setting up a 4-MMTPA alumina refinery and may enter aluminium production - is expected to bid for mines, though raw material linkages shall be available from Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC).

20 years at Reliance helm: Mukesh Ambani redefines scale, business growth

20 years at Reliance helm: Mukesh Ambani redefines scale, business growth

Rediff.com29 Dec 2022

At the 45th Annual General Meeting of Reliance Industries (RIL) in August, chairman and managing director (CMD) Mukesh Ambani described the company as an "unputdownable book" with never-ending chapters of success. "Reliance grew from strength to strength because we internalised the founder's mindset of purpose, philosophy and passion," he said. Wednesday marked the 90th birth anniversary of RIL founder Dhirubhai Ambani.

Domestic crude oil producers get marketing freedom, exports not allowed

Domestic crude oil producers get marketing freedom, exports not allowed

Rediff.com30 Jun 2022

In a move that may boost the Indian hydrocarbon industry and bring more investments into the sector, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided to give marketing freedom to domestic crude oil producers, allowing them to sell petroleum to any company in the local market. The move is set to be beneficial for major crude oil producers, such as state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India, and private sector majors like Vedanta's Cairn Oil and Gas and Reliance Industries. As of May 31, India was dependent on imports for 86 per cent of its crude oil consumption; domestic production sufficed the remaining 14 per cent demand.

Trouble Awaits Oil Stocks?

Trouble Awaits Oil Stocks?

Rediff.com14 Jul 2022

'I would not suggest buying these stocks in the dip, as the upside in profit is dented without a safety net for a rainy day.'

Chips: Can India Be A World Leader?

Chips: Can India Be A World Leader?

Rediff.com8 Sep 2022

Is self-reliance the right approach in a mega-buck game, or better to be part of a network? asks T N Ninan.

$12 bn bonanza for govt from windfall tax on oil firms

$12 bn bonanza for govt from windfall tax on oil firms

Rediff.com5 Jul 2022

The windfall taxes on domestic crude oil production and fuel exports will generate close to $12 billion (Rs 94,800 crore) for the government in the remainder of the current fiscal while trimming profits of firms such as Reliance Industries Ltd and ONGC, Moody's Investors Service said Tuesday. On July 1, the government imposed windfall gain taxes on the export of petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF), and on the domestic production of crude oil. It has also mandated exporters to meet the requirements of the domestic market first.

10 Safe Stocks To Bet In Volatile Market

10 Safe Stocks To Bet In Volatile Market

Rediff.com20 Mar 2023

10 high dividend paying stocks across sectors that are expected to maintain or even increase their pay-outs in FY23 thanks to faster earnings growth in the last four quarters.

Brahmaputra dam: India 'carefully monitoring' developments

Brahmaputra dam: India 'carefully monitoring' developments

Rediff.com3 Dec 2020

The MEA said that the Chinese side has conveyed to India on several occasions that it was only undertaking run-of-the-river hydropower projects, which do not involve diversion of the waters of the Brahmaputra.

Adani keen to enter spectrum race; to face Ambani's Jio, Mittal's Airtel

Adani keen to enter spectrum race; to face Ambani's Jio, Mittal's Airtel

Rediff.com9 Jul 2022

Billionaire Gautam Adani's group is said to be planning a surprise entry into the race to acquire telecom spectrum, which will pitch it directly against Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio and telecom czar Sunil Bharti Mittal's Airtel, sources said. Applications for participating in the July 26 auction of airwaves, including those capable of providing fifth-generation or 5G telecom services such as ultra-high-speed internet connectivity, closed on Friday with at least four applications. Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea -- the three private players in the telecom sector -- applied, three sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Crude calculations on a Russian oil price cap

Crude calculations on a Russian oil price cap

Rediff.com8 Nov 2022

Come December, India may have to re-evaluate purchases of Russian oil if a price cap on crude oil proposed by the US and the European Union (EU) comes into effect. That impacts nearly a quarter of India's oil purchases that come at a discount, helping limit marketing losses for India's state refiners and enabling New Delhi to manage inflation by freezing pump prices of motor fuels. In September, India imported 1 million barrels a day or 24 per cent of its overall imports from Russia, which became the biggest supplier of oil to India.

How Indian IT giants are playing catch-up in consultancy

How Indian IT giants are playing catch-up in consultancy

Rediff.com18 Jan 2022

The analyst community tracking the Indian IT services industry took special note of Accenture's first quarter (Q1) performance, which showcased the rapid growth of its consulting business that outperformed its outsourcing business. Bookings indicate that the trend will continue. Consulting bookings increased 41.6 per cent year-on-year (yoy) to $9.4 billion, higher than the 17.6 per cent growth in outsourcing to $7.4 billion. The management commentary was also more bullish on the consulting business.

Navy team measures depth of glacial lake in Tapovan

Navy team measures depth of glacial lake in Tapovan

Rediff.com21 Feb 2021

The temporary water body was formed after sediments that the catastrophic flash flood earlier this month brought down, blocking the mouth of a stream that joins the Rishiganga river.

Why does India fail to attract foreign investments in oil & gas?

Why does India fail to attract foreign investments in oil & gas?

Rediff.com1 Dec 2021

Why does the world's fastest-growing major consumer of energy fail to attract investments in oil and gas? This is a question worth pondering after private sector conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) failed to close a $15-billion downstream asset deal with Saudi Arabia's national oil company, Aramco. It's understandable if multi-billion dollar investments in oil and gas projects or deals involving state companies that need to traverse a complex bureaucracy at state and federal levels and the corridors of ministries unravel. However, Mukesh Ambani-run RIL, India's most successful energy company, is not typically known to fumble on closing deals (Ambani closed deals worth around Rs 2 trillion early last year in telecom and retail with blue chip investors).

Why public sector companies are unable to attract talent for higher posts

Why public sector companies are unable to attract talent for higher posts

Rediff.com18 Sep 2022

Earlier this year, the Union Cabinet gave the management of state-run companies the freedom to decide on divesting their subsidiaries. However, the very next day a meeting was held at the top level of the Government of India, for the presentation of proposals for more autonomy for state-run companies. Interestingly, no chiefs of any of these companies were invited. It is a problem that will stare the government in the face with the state-owned banks too, as talks have again begun for inviting strategic investments in these companies.

Reliance-Aramco deal likely if crude oil averages $65

Reliance-Aramco deal likely if crude oil averages $65

Rediff.com26 Mar 2021

A fall in crude oil price and Aramco's $75 billion annual dividend commitment may have delayed Saudi company picking a stake in Reliance Industries Ltd's oil-to-chemical unit (O2C), research firm Jefferies said. Richest Indian Mukesh Ambani had in August 2019 announced talks for the sale of a 20 per cent stake in the O2C business, which comprises its twin oil refineries at Jamnagar in Gujarat and petrochemical assets, to the world's largest oil exporter. The deal was to conclude by March 2020 but has been delayed for reasons not disclosed by either company.

OilMin to seek higher diesel price increase

OilMin to seek higher diesel price increase

Rediff.com26 Dec 2013

Ministry to propose a new subsidy mechanism to cap upstream firms' share.

IOC, BPCL, HPCL lost Rs 19,000 cr due to fuel price freeze: Moody's

IOC, BPCL, HPCL lost Rs 19,000 cr due to fuel price freeze: Moody's

Rediff.com24 Mar 2022

India's top fuel retailers IOC, BPCL and HPCL together lost around $2.25 billion (Rs 19,000 crore) in revenue for keeping petrol and diesel prices on hold during elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh, Moody's Investors Services said on Thursday. State fuel retailers did not revise petrol and diesel rates for a record 137 days despite prices of crude oil (raw material for producing fuel) rising to $120 per barrel compared to around $82 in early November when the hiatus began. "Based on current market prices, the oil marketing companies are currently incurring a revenue loss of around $25 (over Rs 1,900) per barrel and $24 per barrel on sale of petrol and diesel, respectively," Moody's said in a report.

China gets nod for dam on Brahmaputra as 14th 5-year plan is cleared

China gets nod for dam on Brahmaputra as 14th 5-year plan is cleared

Rediff.com11 Mar 2021

China's parliament on Thursday adopted the 14th Five-Year Plan, the mega blueprint containing billions of dollars worth of projects, including the controversial hydropower project on the Brahmaputra river in Tibet close to the Arunachal Pradesh border over which India has raised concerns.

Why BPCL divestment is on the slow track

Why BPCL divestment is on the slow track

Rediff.com12 Apr 2022

In December 2019, the India arm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu surprised many with its ultra-competitive bid to become the transaction advisor for the country's largest strategic divestment in Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL). The multinational major quoted just Rs 1; the second-highest bidder, SBI Caps, reportedly quoted Rs 15-17 crore. For Deloitte, the motivation was to bag a prestigious deal adding a national energy company to its portfolio. No doubt, it expected BPCL to go to a marquee buyer in quick time.

Govt seeks Rs 15,546-crore fuel subsidy from oil firms

Govt seeks Rs 15,546-crore fuel subsidy from oil firms

Rediff.com31 Jul 2014

The Oil Ministry has fixed the subsidy payout by upstream firms like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Oil India Ltd at Rs 15,546.65 crore (Rs 155.46 billion) for the April-June quarter.

Govt to pay Rs 12/litre kerosene subsidy, full for LPG

Govt to pay Rs 12/litre kerosene subsidy, full for LPG

Rediff.com13 Jul 2015

Currently, oil companies sell kerosene at a loss of about Rs 18 per litre.

BPCL privatisation may get delayed: Fitch

BPCL privatisation may get delayed: Fitch

Rediff.com6 Sep 2021

Fitch Ratings on Monday said uncertainty over the bidder consortiums and process complexity, including valuation, may lead to potential delays in privatisation of India's second-largest fuel retailer, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL). Affirming BPCL's rating at 'BBB-' with a negative outlook, Fitch said it continues to treat the potential divestment of the company by the Indian government as an event risk. "Bidders are conducting due diligence, but uncertainty over the bidder consortiums and process complexity, including valuation, may lead to potential delays.

First Jio-BP branded petrol pump to open near Mumbai

First Jio-BP branded petrol pump to open near Mumbai

Rediff.com21 Oct 2021

Global energy supermajor BP plc on Thursday said it is about to open its first 'Jio-bp' branded petrol pump in partnership with Reliance Industries near Mumbai.

Reliance is 1st Indian co to cross $100 bn annual revenue

Reliance is 1st Indian co to cross $100 bn annual revenue

Rediff.com6 May 2022

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd on Friday reported a 22.5 per cent rise in net profit for the quarter ended March on the back of bumper oil refining margins, steady growth in telecom and digital services and strong momentum in the retail business. The oil-to-retail-to-telecom conglomerate's consolidated net profit rose to Rs 16,203 crore in the quarter ended March 31, 2022 from Rs 13,227 crore, the firm said in a statement. Net profit, however, fell 12.6 per cent sequentially -- breaking a six-quarter chain of quarter-on-quarter improvement.

OilMin to move Cabinet for reducing subsidy on ONGC, OIL

OilMin to move Cabinet for reducing subsidy on ONGC, OIL

Rediff.com9 Jan 2014

Upstream firms pay for a portion of fuel subsidies by extending discounts on crude oil they sell to refiners who are forced by the government to sell diesel and cooking fuel at rates lower than cost of production.

No need for any anxiety on new Brahmaputra dam: China

No need for any anxiety on new Brahmaputra dam: China

Rediff.com3 Dec 2020

The over 3,800-km-long Brahmaputra, one of the longest rivers in the world passes through China, India and Bangladesh and has several tributaries and sub-tributaries.

Oil ministry to cut ONGC's subsidy burden, adjust its cess payment

Oil ministry to cut ONGC's subsidy burden, adjust its cess payment

Rediff.com8 Dec 2014

According to a new subsidy sharing formula, the payout of upstream oil producers like ONGC is to be reduced to the extent of Rs 4,500 per tonne oil development cess they pay to the government, sources privy to the development said.

Uttarakhand disaster: 13 more bodies recovered, toll rises to 51

Uttarakhand disaster: 13 more bodies recovered, toll rises to 51

Rediff.com14 Feb 2021

Rescue teams on Sunday recovered 13 more bodies, including the first ones to be pulled out from the sludge-choked Tapovan tunnel where a massive operation to reach about 30 people trapped inside began after a flash flood in Chamoli district a week ago.

Only 3 bidders for 21 oil, gas blocks; RIL stays away

Only 3 bidders for 21 oil, gas blocks; RIL stays away

Rediff.com12 Oct 2021

India's latest bid round for 21 oil and gas blocks attracted just three bidders, two of whom were state-owned explorers Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL), according to upstream regulator DGH. As many as 21 blocks or areas were offered for exploration and production of oil and gas in the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) Bid Round-VI, for which bidding closed on October 6. Besides ONGC and OIL, Sun Petrochemicals was the only other company to have bid, according to 'Summary of Bids Received Against Offered Blocks' posted by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH).

2nd Covid wave triggers downward re-rating for infra sector

2nd Covid wave triggers downward re-rating for infra sector

Rediff.com30 Apr 2021

Developers grappling with labour shortage and getting construction material to sites could be among a list of problems.

Tamil Nadu moves SC to restrain Karnataka from proceeding with Mekedatu reservoir

Tamil Nadu moves SC to restrain Karnataka from proceeding with Mekedatu reservoir

Rediff.com27 Aug 2021

The petition stated that the proposed project would affect the flow of the river Cauvery considerably and will severely affect the irrigation in Cauvery basin of Tamil Nadu.

US private equity firm drops out of BPCL race

US private equity firm drops out of BPCL race

Rediff.com12 Nov 2021

US private equity firm I Squared Capital is dropping out of the race to buy India's second-largest state oil firm, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) owing to a complex deal structure and lack of financial backers for the transaction, sources said. I Squared Capital through its Indian arm, Think Gas was among the three suitors that had evinced interest in buying the government's near 53 per cent shareholding in BPCL. "The company has made a decision not to participate in the financial bidding," a source with direct knowledge of the development said.

High commodity prices may not dent Nifty FY22 earnings much

High commodity prices may not dent Nifty FY22 earnings much

Rediff.com26 May 2021

The adverse impact on the margins of auto, consumer staples and consumer durables sectors will be counterbalanced by an earnings uptick in the metals, cement and oil & gas sectors.

Bengal floods: PM dials Mamata, assures her of all help

Bengal floods: PM dials Mamata, assures her of all help

Rediff.com4 Aug 2021

The prime minister telephoned Banerjee to take stock of the flood situation in West Bengal, and assured the chief minister of all central assistance to mitigate it, the bureaucrat said.

RIL signs pact with Mexican firm for oil and gas hunt

RIL signs pact with Mexican firm for oil and gas hunt

Rediff.com5 Dec 2014

RIL and PEMEX will also share expertise and skills in the relevant areas of oil and gas industry, including for deep-water oil and gas exploration and production.

ONGC, OIL exempted from LPG subsidy payments this fiscal

ONGC, OIL exempted from LPG subsidy payments this fiscal

Rediff.com21 Apr 2015

The FinMin will pay Rs 5,324 crore (Rs 53.24 billion) for Jan-March.