Russia for greater energy cooperation with India : Putin

Moscow, Nov 5 (UNI) Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today said the country favoured greater energy cooperation with India and assured the visiting Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora that Russia would discuss India's proposal to participate in Sakhalin-3 project.

Sources said Putin was also deputing Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko to New Delhi for negotiations on Sakhalin-3 and other energy projects, ahead of the visit of President Dmitry Medvedev to India for the annual summit with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in early December.

On his part, Deora emphasised that India seeks to enhance growing synergy between India and Russia in the oil and gas sector on a long-term basis.

He also referred to India's desire for formation of a joint venture between ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) and Rosneft for taking up exploration and development projects in east Siberia.

He reiterated that India welcomes participation of Russian companies in the green field refineries and petrochemical projects in India besides in the exploration and production area.

Deora also proposed for Russian and Indian companies to join hands to take up oil and gas projects not only in India and Russia but also in other countries.

UNI XC SB BST2201