More oil explorers enter Mizoram

Aizawl, May 23 (UNI) 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 said today.

Oil India Ltd (OIL), Suntera Resources Ltd (Cyprus) and Shiv-Vani Oil and Gas Exploration Services Ltd signed an eight-year Deed of Agreement with the state government last evening at the chief minister's office here.

The state representatives included Disaster Management Department secretary K Riachho and Geology and Mining joint director H Lallenmawia.

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

''A global tender will be floated for another block in 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.

He said an agreement was signed with ONGC for another block in the north-western parts of Mizoram in 2003, the exploration works for which were in progress.

NEF general manager A N Saikia, OIL senior adviser (geology) PN Baruah, Suntera Resources MD Rakesh Jain and Vice President Ashwani Chanana, Shiv-Vani GM (exploration) S Roy Chowdhury and project manager PRG Reddy signed the agreement.

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.

State Chief Minister Zoramthanga, present at the occasion, urged the companies to work with zeal and perseverance in order to help boost the state's economy, and assured any possible assistance from his government.

UNI