Energy security unit created in MEA: Govt

New Delhi, Sep 6: With energy security becoming increasingly an integral part of bilateral ties a nodal point in the Ministry of External Affairs for Energy Security has been set up, the government informed the Rajya Sabha today.

Called the Energy Security Division, it will be part of the MEA and will maintain close coordination with the concerned Ministeries and support their international engagement through appropriate diplomatic interventions.

''Energy security has been an integral part of our bilateral discussions with several of the energy resource rich countries'', Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

The division will interface with leading energy security think tanks and experts in india and abroad on energy-related issues.

''Our mission have taken active interest in identifying the emerging opportunities in the energy sector and are keeping Indian companies and concerned Ministries continously informed of developments in this regard,'' he said.

He said the goverment and Indian oil companies have concluded several arrangements including investment agreements with many countries for the supply of oil and its derivatives to India, and in most of the cases delivery has begun.

He said the possibility of bilateral cooperation in the areas of oil, natural gas, petrochemicals, hydrocarbons, non-conventional energy and joint ventures are also constantly being explored with various countries including Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador and Mayanmar.

The issue of energy cooperation has also been taken up with countries like China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Central Asian countries, Libya, Tunisia, ALgeria, Egypt, Sudan, Mauritius, Mozambique etc.

Mr Sharma said to secure a long term, cost effective and secure mode of gas transfer from Iran, India has committed itself to the Iran-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline project.

''We have formally conveyed India's interest in joining the Turkeministan-Afganistan-Pakistan gas Pipeline project (TAP)'', Mr Sharma said.

He said the government has facilitated the entry of Indian energy companies in the markets of Latin America for acquisition of oil fields and sourcing of crude oil from Mexico, Venezuela and Ecuador.

UNI