India Defers Awards Of Coal Gas Blocks

The Indian government deferred awarding coal bed methane blocks on Thursday and instead referred the issue to a panel of government officials which is likely to take a decision in the next few days, a government official said.

In June, the government said it had received 54 bids from 26 firms for the 10 blocks. India has been racing to boost domestic gas production to secure a stable energy supply and meet rising demand in Asia's fourth-largest economy.