Deora to hold talks with Putin on Sakhalin-3

Moscow, Nov 5 (UNI) Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora will hold talks today with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in which India's interest in participating in Sakalin-3 project would be high on the agenda.

Mr Deora arrived in Moscow yesterday to discuss enhancing growing synergy between India and Russia in the oil and gas sector on a long-term basis.

At a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergy Shemato yesterday, Mr Deora underlined that it would be in the mutual interest of both countries to closely engage as Russia is energy rich and India is an energy deficit country.

He pointed out that Russian companies could participate in India's growing oil sector, including downstream market.

During the talks with Putin, Deora is also expected to refer to India's desire for formation of joint venture between ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) and Rosneft for taking up exploration and development projects in east Siberia.

He also favours participation of Russian companies in the green field refineries and petrochemical projects in India besides in the exploration and production area.

Deora has been supportive of Russian and Indian companies joining hands to take up oil and gas projects not only in India and Russia but also in other countries.

He invited Russian participation in the India-CIS Roundtable on Hydrocarbons being organized by India in New Delhi on November 25-26.

The Minister arrived in Moscow from Ashgabad, the capital of Turkmenistan, where he made a transit halt to discuss cooperation in the fields of oil and gas with his Turkmen counterpart Annaguly Deryayev.

UNI XC SBA BD1907