The bids for the largest ever auction of oil and gas blocks were received by the noon deadline today for NELP-VII, but sources said as many as 12 blocks on offer did not receive even a single bid, amid a controversy over tax breaks.
ONGC is understood to have bid for the maximum number of blocks, while Essar Exploration and Production Ltd has bid for four shallow water blocks along with US-based Nobel Energy, in addition to one deep water block with GSPC.
Reliance Industries (RIL), which has a major presence in upstream operations particularly after the gigantic gas find in Krishna Godavari basin, is understood to have bid for an estimated half-a-dozen blocks.
The government had twice postponed the bid dates for the seventh round of auction under the New Exploration Licensing Policy, even as the Petroleum Ministry sought tax breaks from the Finance Ministry for oil and gas production.
