The Hindu Business Line : Deora leads high-level team to Libya, Yemen

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New Delhi Jan. 29 The Petroleum Minister, Mr Murli Deora, is leading a high-level delegation to Libya and Yemen in a bid to enhance co-operation between India and the two countries in the hydrocarbon sector. He will first visit Libya and then Yemen.

In Libya, the Indian delegation will have bilateral meetings with Mr Deora's counterpart Dr Shukri Ghanen, Chairman, National Oil Corporation (NOC) of Libya.

According to an official communiqué, the discussions are likely to lead to signing of an MoU between India and Libya which will provide a framework for co-operation in the oil and gas sector and also facilitate oil companies to firm up agreements in respect of specific projects in the exploration & production and the downstream activities.

Oil India Ltd-Indian Oil Corporation consortium intends expanding their participation in the Libyan E&P sector where they have earlier won two exploration blocks. IndianOil would also be looking at participation in the refinery up-gradation-expansion projects in Libya. The delegation is slated to visit the Raslanuf refinery.

E&P ventures

OVL is also exploring further E&P ventures beyond its success in securing an exploration block in the last round of auction by Libya in December. Engineers India is scouting for engineering and construction projects along the entire chain of oil and gas activities. The company already has an office in Libya.

In the second leg, Mr Deora would lead the delegation to Yemen leaving Tripoli on February 2. Besides holding talks with Mr Khalid Mahfoudh Bahah, Minister of Oil & Minerals, Yemen, for expanding co-operation in the hydrocarbon sector, the delegation is also expected to visit the proposed sites for downstream hydrocarbon projects such as refineries and petrochemical complexes.

At a bilateral meeting in Delhi on January 19, a ministerial Joint Working Group (JWG) between the two Governments was proposed by Mr Khalid with technical/official sub-groups.

The Petroleum Minister would be accompanied by Mr M S Srinivasan, Petroleum Secretary, Mr M S. Behuria, Chairman, IndianOil, Mr M.R. Pasija, CMD, Oil India Ltd (OIL), Mr R.S. Butola, MD, ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) and Mr R.K. Saxena, Director (Commercial), Engineers India Ltd (EIL).