Assam gas cracker project which is being set up by Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd (BCPL) may get natural gas at a concession price. Though the gas cracker plant is a petro-chemical plant and a non-APM consumer, an exception is likely to be made for the project. It should be noted that according to the present guidelines of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, the North Eastern Regional (NER) concession price is not applicable to this plant. However, the Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by Secretary, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals constituted for the commissioning of Assam gas cracker project, in its report issued in November 2013, has recommended that NER concession price as currently applicable to power and fertilizer sectors (i.e., 60% of prevailing natural gas price) be made applicable to BCPL for 15 years of plant operation. As per recommendations of the Committee, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals is likely to move the proposal in this regard shortly.
Assam gas cracker project is targeted for completion by the end of this calendar year as the Prime Minister wants to dedicate the plant to the nation before code of conduct for next general election sets in. The lower gas price will translate into a gas subsidy of Rs. 9,734 crore for the government. The project is estimated to cost Rs. 8,920 crore.
