Energy

Central Petroleum, the Northern Territory's sole onshore gas producer, has been excluded from a major gas supply contract awarded to US-based company Tamboran Resources without a competitive tender process. The company's CEO, Leon Devaney, has expressed surprise and concern over the lack of transparency and competitiveness in the deal, questioning why a more open tender was not held.

The Ministry of Finance is closely monitoring the situation to assess the potential impact of the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran on the Indian economy. Officials have expressed concerns about the possibility of rising global oil prices, which could have a significant impact on India's economy.

India's crude oil processing volumes witnessed a significant increase in March 2024, reaching 23.4 million metric tonnes (MMT), a 1.6% rise compared to the previous year. This growth was fueled by both higher domestic production, which reached 2.5 MMT, and increased imports from Russia, which remained the top supplier for the 18th consecutive month.

A special committee of the Genkai town assembly in Saga Prefecture met on April 25 and approved a request for the town to become the final disposal site for nuclear waste. The decision now awaits the full town assembly's vote, and if approved, it will be up to Mayor Shintaro Wakiyama to formally request the central government to consider Genkai for selection in the multi-stage process.

The Congress party has chosen Varsha Eknath Gaikwad as its candidate for the Mumbai North Central Parliamentary constituency in Maharashtra for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This decision was approved by the Congress Central Election Committee, and the elections for the Maharashtra parliamentary seats will take place on various dates in April and May.