More Oil Explorers enter Mizoram

Aizawl, May 23: The Mizoram government has roped in three more companies for exploration of oil and natural gas in a 3,213 sq km area between Aizawl and Lunglei, Official sources today said that Oil India Limited, Suntera Resources Ltd (Cyprus) and Shiv-Vani Oil and Gas Exploration Services Limited yesterday signed an eight-year Deed of Agreement with the Mizoram government last evening at the chief minister's office here.

From the Mizoram side, Disaster Management Department secretary K Riachho and Geology and Mining joint director Dr H Lallenmawia were present at the signing of the eight-year (5+3) term agreement while from the companies' side, general manager (NEF) AN Saikia and senior adviser (geology) PN Baruah (Oil India) MD Rakesh Jain and vice president Ashwani Chanana (Suntera Resources) and GM (exploration) S Roy Chowdhury and project manager PRG Reddy (Shiv-Vani) signed the agreement.

The signing was witnessed by Chief Minister Zoramthanga and other officials from both sides.

The Mizoram government had floated international tender for exploration of oil and gas in Mizoram for two blocks, in response to which the three companies decided to take up the blocks in a consortium.

Agreement for the next block will be signed with Naftogaz (Russia), Geopetrol (French) and Reliance (India) on Friday this week, official sources said.

Speaking at the meeting, Zoramthanga urged the companies to work with zeal and perseverance in order to help boost the state's economy, and assured any possible assistance from the part of his government.

According to Geology and Mining joint director Dr H Lallenmawia, an agreement had been signed with ONGC for another block in the north-western parts of Mizoram in 2003, and exploration works are in progress.

''A global tender would be floated for another block North-Hlimen area. The total areas, more than 13,000 sq km, given out to oil companies for exploration is already larger than half of the total areas of Mizoram,'' Dr Lallenmawia told UNI