The Government is planning to launch the ninth round of the New Exploration Licensing Policy (Nelp-IX) by September-November this year to auction up to 45 oil and gas blocks, a top official from Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), said.

"We have initiated the process last month for NELP-IX. We believe in another 4-6 months we will be able to launch it," DGH Advisor (Production), R K Sinha, told PTI here today.

DGH is already in the process of identifying a number of blocks and after that some inter-ministerial clearances from the Ministries of Environment and Forests, Defence and External Affairs and various State Governments are needed, Sinha said.

"The economic situation is improving.. we believe that the ninth round will be able to attract a good response from both domestic and foreign oil and gas companies," he said adding, "we hope we will be able to put a large number of blocks under exploration even in the downward period.

Commenting on NELP-VIII, Sinha said that out of a total 70 blocks and 10 Coal Bed Methane (CBM) blocks, 36 blocks had attracted bids. This amounts to 55 per cent of the total blocks offered, he said.

Besides, NELP-VIII round's minimum investment is estimated at USD 1.346-billion, Sinha said, adding the Government is going to start awarding the blocks next month onwards.

Moreover, the government is also considering coming out with a policy for shale gas (shale gas is natural gas produced from shale), Sinha said, without divulging any further details.