Reliance Industries seals $7.2 billion deal with BP

New Delhi: Reliance Industries today announced completion of its 30 percent stake sale in 21 oil and gas blocks, including the showcase KG-D6 block, to British energy giant BP for over $7 billion.

Industrialist Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL) said in a statement that the completion of the deal has paved the way for commencement of its strategic alliance in India with BP.

“The completion of the deal delivers one of the largest foreign direct investments into India,” RIL said. RIL will get $7.2 billion for the stake sale in 21 blocks and could get further $1.2 billion as performance payments based on exploration success resulting into development of commercial deliveries.

Commenting on the completion of the deal, RIL Chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani said: “The alliance with BP will boost our efforts to realise the true potential of India’s hydrocarbon reserves.”

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[caption id=“attachment_73402” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“After the deal, RIL’s holding in the blocks will come down to 60-70 percent. 19 out of the 23 blocks lie off the East Coast, while two blocks are in Assam and Gujarat. Reuters”]  [/caption]

RIL said that the two companies would also form a 50-50 joint venture for sourcing and marketing of gas in India which will also accelerate the creation of infrastructure for receiving, transporting and marketing natural gas.

BP Group CEO Bob Dudley said: “This major investment is directly aligned with our strategy of creating long-term value by forming alliances with strong national partners, gaining material positions in significant hydrocarbon basins and increasing our exposure to growing energy markets.”

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RIL is India’s largest private sector company with a turnover of Rs 2,58,651 crore and net profit of Rs 20,286 crore in the last fiscal ended March 31, 2011.

It had on February 21 agreed to sell 30 percent stake in 23 out of its 29 oil and gas blocks to BP. Earlier this month, the company said that it has received

the government approval for sale of stake in 21 blocks. However, the approval has been held back for two blocks – one a deep sea area off the Orissa coast and the other an onland block in Assam – over technical issues.

Regarding the two remaining blocks, valued at about $2.2 million, RIL said the discussions were continuing with the government and a decision was expected “at a later date”.

RIL said the 21 blocks include the KG D6 block that produces about 1.7 billion cubic feet of gas per day, which was over 40 percent of India’s total gas output.

RIL would remain operator of the Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) and BP will bring its global deepwater, sub-surface and gas expertise to enhance exploration and development of the blocks. The total value of the deal could rise to as much as $ 20 billion on the basis of future performance payments and investment and would give Reliance access to BP’s expertise in deepwater drilling and accelerate development and production from its fields, particularly the KG-D6 block.

RIL might also use BP’s deepwater expertise to tackle the technical issues in the KG-D6 block. RIL is the operator in all 23 blocks, while Canadian firm Niko Resources and UK’s Hardy Oil have minority 10 percent interest in a few.

After the deal, RIL’s holding in the blocks will come down to 60-70 percent. 19 out of the 23 blocks lie off the East Coast, while two blocks are in Assam and Gujarat.

Niko has 10 percent interest in the KG-D6 block and after the BP deal, RIL’s stake would fall to 60 percent. Besides KG-D6, RIL’s second biggest discovery block is NEC-25, off the Orissa coast. It has so far made 15 exploratory successes in the block, where Niko holds a 10 percent stake. Following the BP deal, RIL’s stake in this block will fall to 60 percent.

PTI