Making its stand clear on the gas supply dispute between NTPC Ltd and Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), the Union power ministry today said it would go to the Supreme Court if it did not get a favourable judgement from the Bombay High Court.
“We will definitely go to the Supreme Court, if required. There is no doubt in this,” said power secretary Harishankar Brahma. “It is our right. There is nothing wrong in that,” he added. A judgement in the case was expected in a fortnight, he said.
The case dates back to 2005, when the country’s largest power generating company was negotiating a contract with RIL for supply of 12 mmscmd of gas for its Kawas and Gandhar plants in Gujarat at a rate of $2.34 per mbtu for 17 years. The companies soon ran into dispute over the terms and conditions of supply.
Earlier this week, a division bench of the Bombay HC had allowed RIL to amend its plea against NTPC in the case. The company did so in view of the HC’s judgement in a case involving RIL and Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Natural Resources Ltd.
Asked if the ministry might agree on an out-of-court settlement with RIL over the gas supply dispute, Brahma said, “Absolutely not, unless they agree on our terms and conditions. We are only asking for the tender value. We are not asking for anything extra.”
