New Delhi: Petroleum ministry knocks on investment body’s door for clearances

Move would benefit RIL, Cairn, BP, BHP Billiton and ONGC. The petroleum ministry is set to approach the Prime Minister-led Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) for fast-tracking the approvals for 20 offshore exploration blocks, held up for want of defence ministry clearances, despite the firms having signed production-sharing contracts. The move would benefit Reliance Industries, Cairn, BP and BHP Billiton, apart from public-sector ONGC.