NTPC offers stake in 2 projects to Qatar Pet-report

BANGALORE Aug 27 (Reuters) - Indian state-run utility NTPC Ltd (NTPC.BO) has offered to sell up to 20 percent in two of its power projects on the country's west coast to Qatar Petroleum [QATPE.UL], the Economic Times reported on Friday.

The planned deal is part of NTPC's strategy to ensure long-term fuel supply by offering stakes in power projects to gas producers, the newspaper said, citing an unidentified senior NTPC official.

"We had a few rounds of discussions with (the) government of Qatar and expect to reach some agreement very soon," the official was quoted as saying. "The model, if successful, will be replicated for other existing and proposed gas-based power projects."

The paper did not give financial details, but said the strategy would help reduce NTPC's reliance on costly imports.

The stakes offered are in NTPC's gas-based projects in Kerala and Ratnagiri Gas and Power in Maharashtra, it said.

NTPC officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

For full story see www.economictimes.com. (Writing by Bharghavi Nagaraju; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan)