Shares of government-run oil companies are on fire as government is bracing for a merger. According to a media report, the government is planning to merge 13 PSU oil firm and will soon start consultation for way forward. Companies considered for the merger are ONGC , IOC , HPCL , BPCL , GAIL , MRPL , Chennai Petroleum , Numaligarh Refinery and Oil India .
Meanwhile, in a separate development Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said that Chennai Petroleum may be merged with IOC. IOC already owns 51.9 percent while National Iranian Oil Company (NIOL) owns 15.4 percent in Chennai Petroleum.
Chennai Petroleum rose to a six-year high at Rs 276.30 per share, rising 9 percent while IOC is up over 5 percent intraday on Monday. At 12:52 hrs Chennai Petroleum Corporation was quoting at Rs 268.50, up Rs 14.50, or 5.71 percent and IOC was at Rs 540.15, up Rs 18.70, or 3.59 percent on the BSE.