Great Eastern, Essar seek Bengal govt's approval for shale plans

London-listed Great Eastern Energy Corporation and Essar Oil and Gas Exploration and Production have approached the West Bengal government for amendments in their existing mining leases (MLs), to enable shale production from their blocks in the Raniganj area.

The two are major coal-bed methane (CBM) producers.  The development comes after the central government eased the rules on exploration of unconventional hydrocarbons. That was done in August last year, when the Union Cabinet cleared a policy in this regard. An operator can now explore shale, CBM, hydrates and all such unconventional hydrofules in existing fields.

“For shale, we are awaiting final clearances from