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Home -> Finance -> Full Story
Govt considering selling stakes in IOC and ONGC
Wednesday, November 12 2003 17:16 Hrs (IST)

New Delhi: Government is considering selling its 20 per cent stake in Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and 5 per cent equity in Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) in domestic and overseas markets as a means to shore up its sagging revenues.

Petroleum Secretary B K Chaturvedi and Disinvestment Secretary Dhirendra Singh will meet tomorrow (November 12) to firm up the sale plan as part of efforts to meet the Rs 13,200 crore revenue generation target from disinvestment proceeds.

"We are considering the option to sell 20 per cent of our (Government's) share in IOC and 5 per cent in ONGC through a public issue," Chaturvedi told reporters.

Sale of Government equity in the country's largest firm IOC and India's highest profit-making company ONGC are among the alternatives Petroleum Ministry has listed in its option paper prepared on instructions of the Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment.

The option paper, however, does not suggest sale of IOC's petrol stations after hiving them off from the parent firm.

Chaturvedi said overseas equity sale in IOC and ONGC would not be possible this fiscal as listing requirements could not be fulfilled in the short period left.

"What is possible is a domestic offering (of equity shares) this fiscal," he said, adding the Cabinet will decide on divestment in oil PSUs (public sector undertakings) by January.

PTI