(FE)
BPCL has emerged the top individual bidder in the 9th round of bidding for city gas distribution (CGD) licences with bids for 53 geographical areas (GAs), followed by Indian Oil (37), GAIL Gas (34), Adani Gas (32) and Torrent Gas (31). While HPCL put in bids for 21 GAs, a consortium of Adani and Indian Oil has bid for 17 GAs. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) late on Wednesday released the list of the bidders for all GAs. The current round seeks to give licences for 86 GAs to sell compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped cooking gas.
These GAs cover 174 districts in 22 states and union territories i.e. 24% of India’s area and 29% of population. The other notable bidders are Gujarat Gas (21 GAs), Think Gas Investments (21 GAs) and Unison Enviro (20 GAs). The PNGRB will now go through bid details, and is likely to announce the winners by September. Bidders have been asked to quote the number of CNG stations they will set up and domestic cooking gas connections they plan to provide in the first eight years of operation. Under the new norms, the maximum weight of 50% has been given to the number of piped gas connections proposed. While 407 bids have been submitted in the current round, 12 GAs have received single bids.
