The development comes on the back of the fact that a lot of oil fields were lying idle as state-owned firms found it difficult to drill oil due to the government's subsidy sharing mechanism.
The oil ministry is hopeful that whatever the finance ministry is going to communicate in a day or two will not just entail a decision for Q4 of this fiscal but also the road ahead and what the subsidy sharing mechanism could be in FY16, but obviously only north block decides on a new formula for the next fiscal.
Close on the heels of quarterly results of oil companies and a possible 5 percent divestment in ONGC, the Oil Ministry has proposed a new subsidy sharing proposal with the Finance Minister.
Investors seek clarity on the subsidy-sharing formula
Upstream oil companies such as ONGC, Oil India and GAIL are likely to benefit the most from lower subsidy payout, Prakash Joshi, metals analyst at IDFC says.
The government had said last month it would allow fuel retailers to raise the price of subsidised diesel by 0.40 rupees-0.50 rupees a litre every month and asked bulk buyers to pay market rates. Major oil marketing companies have taken the decision to hike fuel prices, which should be encouraging for the market.
After sources told CNBC-TV18 just yesterday that the FPO could possibly be underway soon, the channel has now learnt that the ONGC FPO may yet again be delayed.
The much awaited ONGC FPO has come across another stumbling block. Reports suggest that the FPO has been pushed back by 15 days due to price mismatch. RS Sharma, Former Chairman of ONGC told exclusively to CNBC-TV18 that a formal meeting will be held today to decide whether to proceed with the offer.
RS Sharma, former chairman of ONGC, said that the company needs more clarity on the subsidy sharing issue and the offer pricing can be better if government gives clarity on the same.
Brokerage recommendations that will help you take advantage of negative news flow to safeguard your portfolio
Last Friday's price increase will impact GAIL less, says the CMD, BC Tripathi. In an interview on CNBC-TV18, he says the subsidy burden will be reduced on oil marketing companies (OMCs) and to that extent on GAIL as well.
RS Sharma, former chairman of state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) says that the government will not realise good value from the company's FPO without providing clarity on issues like pricing and subsidy sharing.