(a) whether the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has entered into retail business ;
(b) if so, the details of areas in which it has started retail business ;
(c) whether the products of ONGC will be cheaper than other oil companies ;
(d) if so, the details thereof ; and
(e) the time by which ONGC will start allotting petrol pumps and gas agencies to general public alongwith the terms and conditions thereof ?
MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS ( SHRI MURLI DEORA )
(a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 164 BY SHRI ALOK KUMAR MEHTA AND SHRI JASUBHAI DHANABHAI BARAD TO BE ANSWERED ON 2ND MARCH, 2006 REGARDING ONGC ENTRY INTO RETAIL BUSINESS.
(a) & (b) : Yes, Sir. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has entered into retail marketing of transportation fuels with effect from 19th March 2005 by starting retail operations from its first petrol pump situated at MRPL Cargo gate, Mangalore.
(c) & (d) : No, Sir. The retail selling prices are in line with the other Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
(e) At present, ONGC has decided to operate its retail outlets on `Company Owned Company Operated` basis.