India Issues Note on Shale Gas Policy

India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has circulated a note on the new shale gas policy for inter-Ministerial consultations, Business Line reported.

The note will be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for final approval after receiving comments, the newspaper said.

A crucial aspect would be getting a nod from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for fracking, as the process, consumes a lot of water resources at the local level.

The Government has already authorised the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) to identify prospective areas of shale gas exploration. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry and the Department of Energy, U.S., has been put in place for assessing shale gas resources in India, for imparting training to Indian geo-scientists and engineers and seeking assistance in formulating a regulatory framework.

The Petroleum Ministry had also asked the U.S. Geological Survey to identify reserves, transfer technology required to tap them, and finalise a policy for exploration, Business Line said.