July 26, 2010: The much talked about meeting of a ministerial panel on natural gas next week is likely to deliberate on availability of gas in the country over next few years but may not allocate any fuel to any new customers. The Empowered Group of Ministers, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on July 27, is likely to discuss setting priority for usage of the gas that is likely to be available in next five years, two sources privy to the development said. It will ask for requirements in power and fertiliser plants coming up in future to be put up to it for a possible allocation from the projected additional gas output at a later date. "Currently, no power plant connected with pipeline network, is starved of gas. Those commissioning this year have already been allocated gas," one of them said. The Oil Ministry will make a presentation on source-wise and year-wise availability of gas and will also present a synopsis of the recent Supreme Court verdict on the Ambani gas dispute. Sources said power ministry may put up the schedule of commissioning of new gas-fired power plants and their fuel requirement. The EGoM would deliberate on how much gas and from what source can be allocated to plants commissioning sequentially, they said adding the issue of fuel for projects that haven't yet started construction may also come up for discussion. Source: The Economic Times