Indian oil cos can develop Libyan oil, gas sectors: Deora

New Delhi, Feb 1 (UNI) Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora, who is on a visit to Libya, has said Indian national oil companies could play a significant role in the development of Libyan oil and gas sectors.

As Libya proposes to double its crude oil production from the present level of about 1.6 million barrels per day in the near future, steps are underway to strengthen the economic cooperation between India and the African nation.

''The expertise of Indian PSUs in upstream, midstream and downstream could come handy in achieving this target as they are both cost and technologically competitive,'' Mr Deora said.

The Indian experience of laying cross country gas pipelines and developing city gas projects would be of immense significance to Libya, the minister added.

The petroleum minister had discussions with Gaddafi Foundation's Chairman Engineer Saif al-Islam, who is the son of Libyan Leader Col Gaddafi.

Gaddafi Foundation is a non-government organisation (NGO), which is engaged in social work, charitable activities, including promoting literacy.

The discussion during the meeting late yesterday night at the Libyan Capital Tripoli, focused on imparting IT and computer training to school children in that nation.

The need for exploring possibilities of bilateral investments as also joint exploration of third countries was also emphasised during the meeting.

Later, in Mr Deora's meeting with Mr Matuk Mohammed Matuk, Secretary for GPC for Manpower, Training and Employment, it was agreed that Libya will send its technical experts to visit Indianoil's Centre of Excellence in petroleum management and Indian Institute of Petroleum Management (IIPM) to study the facilities and training programmes for utilisation by Libya.

The minister also raised the issue of Indian businessmen facing difficulties in procuring Libyan visas that require the clearance from the ministry under Mr Matuk. Mr Matuk agreed to examine the issue and sort out such difficulties.

Mr Deora was accompanied by the Petroleum Secretary M S Srinivasan, IndianOil Chairman S Behuria, Oil India CMD M R Pasrija and ONGC Videsh MD R S Butola.

UNI