(a) whether the Government has formulated an expansion plan of the GAIL - a Public Sector Petroleum Company;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the sources from which funds are likely to be mobilised for this purpose; and
(d) the time by which the expansion plan is likely to be executed?
MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS & PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR)
(a) & (b): No, Sir, Government have not formulated any expansion plan of GAIL. GAIL is a Navratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU). The boards of Navratna PSUs have been delegated powers to formulate expansion plans. Formulation of expansion plans by GAIL is a continuous and on-going process. GAIL is expanding its operations in areas such as laying of natural gas pipelines for transportation of natural gas, petrochemicals, telecommunications, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) regassification, city gas distribution, Exploration & Production through equity/joint venture participations.
In addition to the above, GAIL is also focusing on globalization of business mainly in areas of its core competence in Egypt, Turkey, Bangladesh, Iran, Philippines, Myanmar, etc.
(c): The funding of these projects will be through internal resource generation and market borrowings.
(d): Formulation and execution of expansion plan is a continuous and ongoing process.