December 04, 2001
Iranian Foreign Minister -Ram Naik discuss gas pipeline project
keralamonitor.com Dr.S.M.H. Adeli, Dy.Foreign Minister of Iran who is on a visit to India met Ram Naik the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, here today. The two Ministers discussed the issues pertaining to the proposed Iran-India Gas Pipeline. Speaking at the meeting Naik said that the imports of gas to India was important, as there is a big gap between domestic availability and demand of gas.
He emphasised that proper coordination was necessary between Iran and India as well as the companies who have been assigned the task of carrying out feasibility studies of various options. In this context sharing of information and advance consultations would facilitate objective studies and the conclusion of agreements.
Dr. Adeli informed the Minister that they have asked the international companies, BHP and Snamprogetti to share all information with India on the feasibility studies being carried out by them as and when asked for. He said that Iran will hold a meeting in Tehran to assess the interests of various International companies and consortium of companies in the pipeline project. The Iranian Minister informed Shri Naik that Iranian Oil Minister would soon visit India for further enhancing cooperation between the two countries, specially in Hydrocarbon Sector. He also invited Ram Naik to visit Iran.
- ONGC’S Investment in oil Production
The Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Santosh Gangwar told the Rajya Sabha today in a written reply that although in the early part of the last decade there was a decline in the crude oil production of ONGC, this was arrested and turn-around achieved through additional inputs in the major fields such as Mumbai High, Neelam, Heera and Gandhar. He added that the decline in the production was mainly because of (a) major fields like Mumbai High on decline, which is a natural phenomenon of aging fields; (b) no major discoveries in the last 10-12 years and (3) environmental problems, delay in acquisition of land, power shortage, etc in the North-eastern region.
Redevelopment of Mumbai High North
The Minister informed the Lok Sabha in another written reply today that Mumbai High is the largest oil field in India and plans for its redevelopment had been formulated by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) in close consultation/concurrence with the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH). These plans envisage an incremental production of around 60 million metric tonnes of oil over 30 years time frame.
He added redevelopment plans for Mumbai High-North and Mumbai High-South were launched in January 2001 and October 2001, respectively, and are scheduled to be completed by 2006-07. The scheduling of such large redevelopment plan is dynamic in nature and was mutually agreed between ONGC and DGH. The plans will be carried out in a modular fashion.
The Minister further informed the House that to improve the recovery factor from the existing fields, ONGC has taken up its 15 fields for implementing Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)/Improved Oil Recovery (IOR) schemes at an estimated investment of over Rs.10,000 crore which would also help in accelerating oil production from these fields.
December 04, 2001
Kenya Seeks Indian help in Strengthening Railway Infrastructure
New Delhi; Kenya has expressed a keen desire to use Indian Railways’ expertise and assistance in modernising its Railway System and other transport infrastructure. The Kenyan Minister for Transport and Communication, Mr. Musalia Mudavadi conveyed this to the Minister of Railways, Shri Nitish Kumar when he called on the latter at Rail Bhavan, here this morning. The visiting dignitory, was accompanied by a ten-member delegation of experts and senior Railway officials of Kenya.
Identifying the specific areas of cooperation, Mr. Mudavadi said that India’s help is needed in providing flat wagons, locos and other rolling stock, strengthening rail telecommunication of Kenya and training of its Railway personnel.
The Minister of Transport and Communication, Kenya Mr. Musalia Mudavadi calls on the Union Minister for Railways Shri Nitish Kumar in New Delhi on December 4, 2001.
Nitish Kumar said that Indian Railways share a very close relationship with Kenya as India had played a significant role in the setting up of the Kenyan Rail infrastructure. He expressed India’s readiness to extend all possible help and assistance in making the Kenyan Railways more productive and economically viable as they serve a significant communication and commercial link in the African sub-continent. Shri Nitish Kumar hoped that the delegation level talks between the two countries would lead to specific detailed proposals in the areas underlined by the Kenyan Minister. These will receive a very favourable consideration, from the Indian Government, the Railway Minister assured.
Minister of State for Railways, Shri Digvijay Singh, Chairman Railway Board, Shri R.N. Malhotra, Board Members and other senior Railway officials participated in the deliberations.
Dr.S.M.H. Adeli, Dy.Foreign Minister of Iran with Indian oil and gas Minister Ram Naik in New Delhi
