TIMELINE - Key dates in Ambani brothers' feud

MUMBAI (Reuters) - A dispute between the billionaire Ambani brothers over the supply and pricing of natural gas comes as a test of India's governance standards and could discourage investment in India's energy sector as the country scrambles to shore up its energy security.

Following is a timeline of key dates in the Ambani rift.

* July 2002 - Dhirubhai Ambani, a school teacher's son and founder of the Reliance business empire, dies. Mukesh Ambani becomes chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Ltd, and Anil Ambani is made vice-chairman.

* Nov 2004 - Feud between the brothers becomes public.

* June 2005 - Family reaches a settlement to split the Reliance group in a deal brokered by their homemaker mother, Kokilaben.

* 2006 - Formal split takes place, with Mukesh taking control of flagship Reliance Industries, with interests in petrochemicals, oil and gas exploration, refining and textiles. He has since launched a retail venture.

Anil gets telecoms, power, entertainment and financial services. The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group includes Reliance Communications Ltd, Reliance Infrastructure Ltd, Reliance Capital Ltd, Reliance Natural Resources Ltd (RNRL) and Reliance Power Ltd.

* July 2008 - Reliance Communications calls off merger talks with South Africa's MTN after Mukesh makes a claim on the shares of Anil's telecom firm.