ONGC has not been able to fully restore crude oil supply from its Assam assets even a week after production was disrupted by the All Assam Students Union?s (AASU) bandh. The company?s production from Assam oilfields on December 28 was just 2,500 thousand tonne per day (TPD), compared to the normal level of 28,00 TPD.
The AASU?s four-day-long bandh that started on December 21 caused production from ONGC?s oilfields dip to 21,00 TPD.
According to company sources, difficulties are being encountered in restoring disrupted output because of wax formation in the oil wells. ONGC has been making losses from its Assam operations. To ensure better monitoring of the company?s operations in the state, the petroleum ministry has set separate performance targets for the company?s Assam assets in the MoU signed for the current fiscal. The petroleum ministry has mooted the idea that ONGC should float a separate subsidiary to manage its Assam assets, though no final decision has yet been taken.
However, the AASU suspects that this is the first step in the ONGC?s plan to get rid of Assam assets. If the fear comes true, it will lead to pruning of the company?s workforce in the state. That is why the AASU is insisting on a written assurance from ONGC?s management that it would not take any such step.