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India- Algeria to Enhance Coopration in
Oil Sector
New Delhi, April 23, 2007
| Murli Deora, Minister of Petroleum &
Natural Gas today called on the Prime Minister of Algeria
Abdelaziz Belkhadem.
In the hour long meeting Shri Deora conveyed India’s
strong desire to strengthen the friendly relations between
India and Algeria particularly in oil & gas sector. |
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He informed that India is keen to have an arrangement to
purchase LPG from Algeria on term contract basis besides
pursuing opportunities in other areas of hydrocarbon sector
for mutual benefit. Algeria has large exportable surplus of
LPG while India is a large importer of the product. Abdelaziz
Belkhadem emphasised the need for forging strategic relations
in hydrocarbon domain in the backdrop of long standing
friendship between the two countries. He fondly recalled his
meeting with the two former Prime Ministers of India late Smt
Indira Gandhi and late Rajiv Gandhi in 1983 at Kolkota during
Congress conclave. Chakib Khelil, Minister of Energy and
Mines, Algeria was also present.
Other members of Indian delegation who attended the meeting
are Petroleum Secretary M S Srinivasan, CMD ONGC R S Sharma,
Chairman IOC S Behuria, CMD GAIL Dr U D Choubey, CMD EIL and
Shri M Rohatgi. Shri Murli Deora will call on the President of
Algeria later in the evening. Earlier during delegation level
talks, Shri Deora recounted the close ties between the two
countries and expressed the hope that present discussions will
lead to expanding hydrocarbon cooperation between the two
countries. He referred to the presence of Engineers India
Limited (EIL) in Algeria for the past 25 years. Chakib Khelil
gave a comprehensive insight into the structure of the
hydrocarbon, Electricity and Mining sectors in Algeria. He
informed that Algeria aims exporting 85 billion cubic metres
of gas by the year 2010 up from about 62 billion cubic metres
with 50% being supplied as LNG.
He also highlighted plan to expand pipeline capacity to
supply gas to Europe. GAIL expressed their interest to
participate in a major project on the anvil, the envisaged
Trans-Sahara gas pipeline project linking Nigeria to Algeria
and onwards to the European market through existing pipeline
network. The Company also offered pursuing equity in LNG
infrastructure and in CNG projects in Algeria for which thay
are prepared to work closely with the local agencies. In
upstream sector India conveyed that Indian oil PSUs are open
for joint bidding with NOCs of Algeria in their upcoming
Seventh Round of Bidding during 2007. ONGC expressed interest
in working jointly with Sonatrach through the two MOUs already
signed with them. The leading upstream company of India also
offered to give training to the Algerian oil sector personnel
in diverse areas covering reservoir management, seismic
studies, etc.
Indian companies would pursue working with Naftec for
identifying prospective refining projects for participation by
Indian companies and offering PMC services, etc. IOC offered
to work together with Algerian companies in the areas of
Refinery upgradation, setting up of new refineries, bitumen
formulations, consultancy services pertaining to process units
commissioning, etc. Algeria’s current refining capacity of
500,000barrels per day(bd) is being increased with a new
refinery in the South to be commissioned shortly alongwith
construction of another refinery of 100,000 bd capacity at
Skikda by 2009 and one more refinery by 2011. Moving on their
past 25 years’ association of working in Algeria including
recent projects namely Skikda condensate refinery, EIL also
offered their interest in upcoming projects in refineries
revamp, gas plants, pipeline projects etc.
The Company also offered PMC services in non-ferrous
metallurgical industries, pointing out that they had offered
such services to National Aluminium Company (NALCO) in the
public sector and Hindustan Aluminium Company (Hindalco) in
the private sector. The two sides after detailed exchange of
views, noted their current level of engagement with
satisfaction and agreed that there is considerable scope for
expanding and diversifying their hydro-carbon relationship
through strategic alliances and collaboration.
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