The long-pending production sharing contract for the Ratna and R-series oilfields between the government and a consortium led by Essar is now in sight with the negotiating team of secretaries today reconciling differences over the delivery point for oil and gas.

The negotiating team, comprising the petroleum, finance and law secretaries, however, had sought clarifications from Essar regarding the financial aspects of the deal "to safeguard the government's interests," sources said. The sources, however, refused to elaborate.