India discuss gas evacuation from Sakhalin-1

New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora today met his Russian counterpart Victor Khristenko and discussed evacuation of gas from the oil fields of Sakhalin-1 at the ongoing 10th International Energy Forum (IEF) Ministerial meeting at Doha.

The discussions focused on Indo-Russian cooperation in hydrocarbon sector. Evacuation of gas from Sakhalin-I and the various options therein were discussed.

India's participation in Sakhalin-III also came up for discussions. India through ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) has 20 per cent participating interest in Sakhalin-I oil and gas project which went on stream in October last year.

In a series of high level meetings with the energy and political establishment of Qatar, Mr Deora met the First Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also met the Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Industry and Energy Al Attiyah.

The issues of further supply of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to Petronet LNG Ltd as well as Qatar's interest in exploring investment opportunities in energy related infrastructure in India were also discussed at the meeting.

The Minister said he was hopeful that India-Qatar relations would continue to move ahead in the energy sector. India is already the single largest LNG customer of Qatar.

In the meeting with the Saudi delegation headed by Mr Abdul Azeez Bin Salman, Assistant Minister of Energy, further steps in the energy sector under the Delhi declaration were discussed.

A senior level delegation from Saudi Arabia is expected to visit India shortly to take the process forward. Mr Deora said.

Saudi Arabia remains a reliable and the single largest partner in India's energy sector. This relationship will be strengthened further under the Delhi declaration, he added.

In another significant meeting with the Venezuelan Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez, it was decided to go ahead in accordance with the Hydrocarbon Agreement signed between the two countries in March 2005. The Venezuelan Minister stated that they perceive India as a major emerging market.

Indian oil companies will actively pursue long-term supply contracts with Venezuela for sourcing crude oil, Mr Deora said.

The informal tripartite ministerial meeting between Iran, Pakistan and India attracted considerable attention in Doha.

All the three minister expressed satisfaction at the progress on the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline and resolved to continue with the process of consultations, firstly in May 2006 at tripartite, Secretary level talks, scheduled in Islamabad and later at tripartite ministerial level talks in Tehran in June 2006.

In a meeting between India and Norway, both sides expressed satisfaction regarding progress made under the various MoUs entered into in September 2005 and agreed that the next of the India-Norway joint working group would be convened shortly in Oslo.

Mr Deora in his interaction with the Egyptian side discussed mutual cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector by way of crisscross investments by the two countries.

He also met CEOs of ENI and Chevron as well as the Head of E&P, Shell. ENI expressed considerable interest in enhancing their presence in the hydrobarbon value chain in India which they see as a rapidly expanding market with considerable potential in the coming years.

Chevron has recently entered India will an equity participation in the Reliance refinery being set up in Jamnagar. Shell has commissioned a technology center at Bangalore recently.

Petroleum Secretary M S Srinivasan, actively contributed to the discussion with participation from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) chairman S Behuria and Oil and Natural Gas Coorporation Ltd (ONGC) CMD Subir Raha.

In discussions with various delegations, the present offering of 24 deep water, 25 on-land and 6 shallow water blocks under NELP-VI was highlighted and their participation sought.

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