Algeria, India to boost energy cooperation

DUBAI: India and Algeria have discussed the possibility of boosting cooperation and partnership in the field of energy.

Increased cooperation was the focus of talks between Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora and Algeria's Energy and Mines Minister Chakib Khelil in Algiers on Saturday.

The talks covered the Algerian LNG and LPG marketing and centered on the possibility to develop the projects of cooperation in the domain of hydrocarbons exploration and production as well as training, the official Algerian press service said.

It said he Algerian LNG and LPG export to Indian companies was also discussed. The Indian minister is on a seven-day official visit to three oil and gas rich countries - Syria, Algeria and Egypt - for further expanding the growing cooperation between India and these countries in the oil and gas sector.

Other members of the delegation are Petroleum Secretary M S Srinivasan, CMD of ONGC R S Sharma, IOC Chairman S Behuria, GAIL CMD U D Choubey and EIL CMD M Rohatagi. Deora is also expected to call on the President of Algeria.

The visit would be utilised for creating positive atmosphere for Indian companies to pursue opportunities in the next round of bidding for blocks by the Algerian Ministry of Energy and Mines.

OVL proposes to jointly bid with the Algerian National Oil Company Sonatrach for which it has an MoU in place with Sonatrach along with one for jointly bidding with Iraq. GAIL is also pursuing opportunities in Algeria.