(a) whether public–private partnership of Cairn-ONGC have been covered under CAG ambit; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
(a) whether public–private partnership of Cairn-ONGC have been covered under CAG ambit; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (SHRI R. P. N. SINGH)
(a) to (b) : As per PSC, Government has right to audit the accounting
records of contractor in respect of petroleum operation. Considering the
large stake involved in the form of Royalty and Profit Petroleum, the
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas had requested Comptroller & Auditor
General (C&AG) to undertake a special audit of eight exploration fields/blocks
including Pre-NELP Block RJ-ON-90/1 in which Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
being licensee holds 30% Participating Interest (PI), Cairn Energy India
Pty. Ltd. being operator holds 35% PI and Cairn Energy Hydrocarbons Ltd.
holds 35% PI. However, C&AG conducted special audit in respect of four
blocks including RJ-ON-90/1 for the 2006-07 & 2007-08. The final report
on the Performance audit of Hydrocarbons Production Sharing Contracts
(PSCs) has been tabled in the Parliament by Comptroller and Auditor
General (C&AG) and the same is under consideration of Public Accounts
Committee.
Currently, on the request of MOP&NG, C&AG has agreed to conduct audit
of block RJ-ON-90/1 for the Financial Years 2008-09 to 2011-12.