First oil from Rajasthan fields to flow in a "few days": Cairn

MUMBAI: Cairn India will begin production of crude from its Rajasthan fields in a "few days", company Managing Director and CEO, Rahul Dhir, said on Tuesday.

"There are a few days left (for production to commence)," Dhir told reporters after the company's third annual general meeting (AGM) here.

The first oil from the Mangala, Bhagyam and Aishwariya (MBA) fields will begin this month itself, he said.

The explorer will also invest $1.5-1.8 billion in 2010-11 in 25 discoveries it has made in Rajasthan so far, Dhir said.

"We will be spending $1.5-1.8 billion in 2010-11. About 70\80 per cent of this will go into the Rajasthan fields," Dhir said.

The company revised its capital expenditure downward from USD 1.8-billion estimated last year given the market situation , Dhir said.

Cairn India, along with its 30 per cent partner, state-owned ONGC, will develop the MBA fields, the first three of the 25 discoveries in the Rajasthan block that are being put to production in the first phase.