India Delays Shale Gas Launch

India has delayed the publication of its shale gas exploration policy to next year.

"Prospects of shale gas are there...We are exchanging notes with international experts on this. Our ambition was to unveil it this year but I'm sure we'll be able to do that next year," Oil Minister S. Jaipal Reddy told a news conference.

Concerns in respect of hydraulic fracturing and land acquisition may have contributed to the delay.

Indian based companies including Reliance Industries, GAIL and Oil India, have been seeking shale gas assets overseas.