Lok Sabha Question No. 3982 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-19
Subject: Kerosene Allocation for Karnataka
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Dr. K Sudhakar

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3982 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  DECEMBER 2024

## Kerosene Allocation for Karnataka

## 3982. DR. K SUDHAKAR:

## पेůोिलयम और ÿाक ृ ितक गैस मंýी

## Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the funds allocated and disbursed for kerosene across districts of Karnataka during FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any steps for oil exploration across the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has entered into international agreements with foreign countries for joint venture in petroleum and natural gas exploration, if so, the details thereof; (d) whether there are any ongoing projects regarding transportation of the natural gas from natural gas rich countries to India through pipelines, if so, the details thereof; and (e) whether Indian companies have started acquiring strategic petroleum assets across other countries, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefore along with the details of strategies undertaken to use petroleum as strategic asset?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

## पेůोिलयम और ÿाक ृ ितक गैस मंýालय म¤ राºयमंýी ( ®ी सुरेश गोपी ) (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

- (a): No allocation of funds is made for Kerosene by the Government. Government,  however, makes allocation of subsidized Public Distribution System (PDS) Kerosene to States/UTs on quarterly basis for cooking and lighting purpose. While making PDS Kerosene allocation to States/UTs factors such as increase in domestic LPG/Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections, electricity coverage, non-lifting of PDS Kerosene quota by the concerned States/UTs etc are taken  into  account.  Further  distribution  of  PDS  Kerosene  within  the  State/UT  under  PDS network  is  carried  out  by  the  concerned  State/UT.  Scale  and  criteria  of  the  distribution  is accordingly, also decided by the respective State/UT.
- (b):  Government  has  been  taking  various  steps  to  boost  domestic  oil  and  gas  production which, inter-alia, include:
- i. Policy under PSC regime for early monetization of hydrocarbon discoveries, 2014.
- ii. Discovered Small Field Policy, 2015.
- iii. Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), 2016.

iv. Policy for Extension of PSCs, 2016 and 2017. v. Setting up of National Data Repository, 2017. vi. Appraisal of Un-appraised areas in Sedimentary Basins under National Seismic Programme, 2017. vii.  Policy  framework  for extension  of  PSCs for  Discovered  Fields  and  Exploration  Blocks under Pre-New Exploration Licensing Policy (Pre-NELP), 2016 and 2017. viii. Policy to Promote and Incentivize Enhanced Recovery Methods for Oil and Gas, 2018. ix. Policy Framework for exploration and exploitation of Unconventional Hydrocarbons under Existing  Production  Sharing  Contracts  (PSCs),  Coal  Bed  Methane  (CBM)  Contracts  and Nomination Fields, 2018. x. Lower Royalty Rates, Zero Revenue Share (till Windfall Gain) and no drilling commitment in Phase-I in OALP Blocks under Category II and III basins to attract bidders. xi. Release of about 1 Million Sq. Km. (SKM) 'No-Go' area in offshore which were blocked for exploration for decades.

xii.  Government is also acquiring seismic  data  in  onland  and  offshore  areas  and  drilling  of stratigraphic  wells  to  make  quality  data  of  Indian  Sedimentary  Basins  available  to  bidders. Government has approved acquisition of additional 2D Seismic data of 20,000 LKM in onland and 30,000 LKM in offshore beyond Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India.

(c) & (d): No.

(e)  Indian Oil & Gas PSUs regularly assess the opportunities to invest in upstream assets in foreign countries based on techno-commercial considerations. As on 1 st April  2024,  Indian PSUs have invested in 45 overseas upstream assets spread over 21 countries.

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