Govt to cut natural gas prices by 17% to $3.15 per mmBtu

New Delhi: Government is likely to cut natural gas prices by 17 percent from Friday to USD 3.15 per million British thermal unit from current USD 3.82.

As per the new gas pricing formula approved by the NDA-government in October 2014, gas prices are to be revised every six months and the next change is due on April 1.

Oil Ministry is likely to announce anytime a revised price of about USD 3.15 per mmBtu for the period April 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016, sources privy to the development said.

As per the formula, rates are to be determined on a semi-annual basis and calculated based on a volume weighted average of rates in gas surplus nations of the US, Canada and Russia, based on the 12-month trailing average price with a lag of three months.

Using benchmark prices for the period of January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, gas price for the period April 2016 to September 2016 comes about USD 3.15 per mmBtu as against USD 3.82 currently, they said.

On a net-calorific value (CV) basis, the gas price is likely to be USD 3.50 per mmBtu as compared to USD 4.24 currently.

The Ministry is also likely to announce a cap price based on alternate fuels for undeveloped gas finds in difficult areas like deepsea. The cap for April 1 to September 30 is likely to be USD 7, they said.

Natural gas prices were last cut on October 1 by a steep 18 percent to USD 3.82 per mmBtu on gross calorific value (GCV) basis for six months, from the USD 4.66 per mmBtu.

On net calorific value (NCV) basis, the new gas price for October 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016 came to USD 4.24 per mmBtu as compared to USD 5.18 previously.

Using prevailing price in gas surplus nations like the US, Russia and Canada, the government had in October 2014 announced a new pricing formula that led to rates rising by about 33 percent to USD 5.61 per mmBtu on NCV basis for period up to March 31, 2015 from the long-standing price of USD 4.2.

The rates, on net calorific value (NCV) basis, dropped to USD 5.05 per mmBtu for six-month period beginning April 1, 2015.