(T.E.T)
A joint venture of billionaire Gautam Adani-run group’s gas arm and Total of France on Friday walked away with the most 14 licenses to retail CNG to automobiles and piped cooking gas to households in the latest city gas bidding round, according to oil regulator PNGRB. Adani Total Gas Ltd won city gas rights in 14 out of the 52 geographical areas (GAs) for which Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) declared results on Friday. Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL) won 13 GAs, while state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) was adjudged winner in 8 GAs.
As many as 65 GAs were offered for bidding in the 11th city gas distribution (CGD) licensing round. Of this, bids were received for 61 GAs but results for only 52 GAs were announced on Friday. The results of the remaining 9 GAs have been withheld due to the model code of conduct being in place in Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand for assembly elections. PNGRB has written to the Election Commission and results of the 9 GAs which fall in the two states will be announced once its approval is received, officials said. IOC cornered high potential GAs such as Jammu and Madurai. The hotly contested GA of Nagpur went to a consortium that included HCG (KCE) Pvt Ltd and Haryana City Gas.
