New Delhi: The Supreme Court has refused to stay a central government directive to Petronet LNG to pool LNG gas prices and charge uniformly from all existing and new customers so as to keep the fuel price for the Dabhol power project low.

The nine petitioners, including Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC), Gujarat State Fertiliser Corporation, Gujarat State Electricity Corp, Essar Power and Welspun India, have challenged the Gujarat High Court order dated October 17 that refused to stay the petroleum ministry's notification raising liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices.

The notification had directed Petronet LNG Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), GAIL and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) to charge uniform prices from existing and new consumers.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhan, while refusing to stay the ministry's communication, issued notice to the Ministry of Petroleum, Petronet LNG, GAIL, IOC, BPCL, Ratnagiri Gas and Power Pvt Ltd, the Maharashtra government and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company.

It also tagged the matter with another similar batch of petitions filed by Petronet LNG, Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and the Centre and posted the matter for final hearing in January.

Earlier, the apex court in August had vacated a stay granted by Gujarat High Court on a central government directive to raise prices of LNG. According to the petitioners, the action of the Centre amounted to giving subsidy to new customers at the cost of old customers who had contractual rights in their favour.

Source : PTI