Oil and Gas The oil and gas exploration policy will be reviewed to move from profit sharing to 68. The oil and gas exploration policy will be reviewed to move from profit sharing to 68. revenue sharing contracts. A policy to encourage exploration and production of shale gas will be announced. The natural gas pricing policy will be reviewed and uncertainties regarding pricing will be removed. NELP blocks that were awarded but are stalled will be cleared. The 5 MMTPA LNG terminal in Dabhol, Maharashtra will be fully operational in 2013-14.

Coal Despite abundant coal reserves, we continue to import large volumes of coal. Coal 69. Despite abundant coal reserves, we continue to import large volumes of coal. Coal 69. imports during the period April-December, 2012 have crossed 100 million tonnes. It is estimated that imports will rise to 185 million tonnes in 2016-17. If the coal requirements of the existing power plants and the power plants that will come into operation by 31.3.2015 are taken into account, there is no alternative except to import coal and adopt a policy of blending and pooled pricing. In the medium to long term, we must reduce our dependence on imported coal. One of the ways forward is to devise a PPP policy framework, with Coal India Limited as one of the partners, in order to increase the production of coal for supply to power producers and other consumers. These matters are under active consideration and the Minister of Coal will announce Government's policies in this behalf in due course.

Power Hon'ble Members are aware that the Government has approved a scheme for the 70. Hon'ble Members are aware that the Government has approved a scheme for the 70. financial restructuring of DISCOMS to restore the health of the power sector. I would urge State Governments to prepare the financial restructuring plans quickly, sign the MOU, and take advantage of the scheme.

##### Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

71. small and medium enterprises (MSME) have a large share of jobs, production and 71. small and medium enterprises (MSME) have a large share of jobs, production and exports. Too many of them do not grow because of the fear of losing the benefits associated with staying small or medium. To encourage them to grow, I propose that the benefits or preferences enjoyed by them will stay with them for upto three years after they grow out of the category in which they obtained the benefit. To begin with, I propose that the non-tax benefits may be made available to a MSMEunit for three years after it graduates to a higher category. To provide greater support to MSMEs, I propose to enhance the refinancing capability of 72. SIDBI from the current level of 5,000 crore to 10,000 crore per year. ` ` SIDBI set up the India Microfinance Equity Fund in 2011-12 with budgetary support of 73. 100 crore to provide equity and quasi-equity to Micro Finance Institutions (MFI). An amount of ` 104 crore has been committed to 37 MFIs. I have allocated 100 crore to the IME Fund in the ` ` budget and I now propose to provide another sum of 100 crore to the Fund. ` The Factoring Act 2011 has been passed by Parliament. I propose to provide a corpus of 74. 500 crore to SIDBI to set up a Credit Guarantee Fund for factoring. ` Tool Rooms and Technology Development Centres set up by the Ministry of Micro, 75. Small and Medium Enterprises have done well in extending technology and design support to