The Hindu Business Line : Syria will preferentially allot exploration blocks to Indian firms

New Delhi April 20 Syria has agreed to preferential allotment of exploration blocks to Indian firms. This was decided at a meeting between the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Murli Deora, and his Syrian counterpart, Mr Sufian Al-Alao, in Damascus on Thursday.

The two discussed a number of projects and key areas for further enhancing cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector spanning across exploration and production, refinery modernisation and new projects like development of gas infrastructure, including city gas projects, marketing, as well as training of Syrian technicians and engineers.

Working together

Syria has agreed to work closely with Indian oil and gas companies and to consider the request of Indian side for allocating blocks on preferential basis in the spirit of mutually beneficial relationship.

Further, Syria would provide information to Indian companies on seven offshore blocks proposed to be auctioned by it later this year.

ONGC has offered to assist Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) for increased oil recovery/enhanced oil recovery (IOR/EOR) projects.

According to an official communiqué issued here, "ONGC extended offer of assistance to SPC for increased IOR/EOR from their heavy oil fields through techniques such as in-situ combustion, gas and water injection, slim hole drilling, side tracking and production system optimisation."

In refining sector, Indian Oil Corporation and Engineers India Ltd (EIL) conveyed their interests in participating in different opportunities in Syria.

EIL specifically expressed interest in participating in the upcoming Banias Refinery Upgradation project as well as the new refinery projects.

Banias project

Syrian side agreed to provide details of the project, companies working on the tender for Banias Refinery Upgradation for maximising gasoline and gas oil production.

Syria will also send the project plans, and other terms and conditions proposed for setting up new refineries through joint venture route with Venezuela (capacity: 1,40,000 bpd); China (capacity: 70,000 bpd); and new refinery with share-holding by Kuwaiti Financial company (1,40,000 bpd).

To the GAIL (India) Ltd's offer to develop compressed natural gas based infrastructure, Syria informed that GAIL has qualified for the CNG distribution and they will float the bid document before the end of this year.

The two sides also agreed to form joint working groups for identified areas of mutual cooperation, comprising officials of both countries that will fine tune and monitor the work programme under the aegis of Hydrocarbon Committee.

They further agreed to intensify high-level bilateral exchanges and consultations to facilitate enhanced cooperation. In this connection, the Indian Minister has invited the Syrian Oil Minister to visit India.