Chandra Mohan Patowary, Assam industry minister said thatthe state government is keen to increase its share in NRL and the BPCL's stakein the Numaligarh-based refinery should be given to OIL.

Reportedly, he took up the issue at the National Conclave on Emerging Opportunities in Natural Gas Sector in New Delhi. The minister said Assam government's shareholding in Numaligarh Refinery should be hiked to 26 percent from the present 12 percent.

"For this, the State government is willing to pay therequired amount which is around Rs 1,400 crore," Patowary said.

The Centre has clarified that NRL will remain in the public sector and the proposed BPCL disinvestment program will exclude the firm's share in Numaligarh. The Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited presently has a 61.65 percent stake in NRL, the Assam government has 12.35 percent and OIL has 26 percent.

Moreover, the minister further called for providing gas pricing subsidy for imported gas supply. He also called for gas price subsidy to Assam Petrochemicals Limited (APL).

It may be stated here that, Patowary also requested the Central government to provide a 40 percent subsidy in the price of natural gas to be supplied through the Northeast Gas Grid (NGG) project. NEGG is implemented by the Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL) for price viability for the targeted customers as well as for attracting large scale industrial investments.