India and Sudan set up group on hydrocarbon

India and Sudan has decided to constitute a Joint Working Group (JWG) to review the cooperation in hydrocarbon sector between the two countries. The JWG would pursue cooperation between the two sides in order that such cooperation is enhanced and consolidated. It was agreed by both the sides that the first meeting of the JWG would be held in Khartoum in early 2004.

After meeting the minister of energy and mining of Sudan Dr Awad Ahmed El Jazz, petroleum minister Ram Naik told reporters that the two ministers noted with satisfaction the progress made in the ongoing projects. Representatives of the Sudanese Companies and ONGC Videsh had separately held satisfactory discussions on ONGC Videsh’s participation in the Port Sudan Oil Refinery expansion project and Khartoum-Port Sudan Petroleum products pipeline project.

Both the sides observed and expressed their satisfaction that the strategic partnership between the two countries in the oil sector has taken shape with the entry of ONGC Videsh in the Greater Nile Oil Project in Sudan. Both the ministers said that the good performance of ONGC Videsh in the Greater Nile Oil Project was noteworthy. The Sudanese counterpart also appreciated the contribution being made by ONGC Videsh in providing credible assistance in the fields of health care, IT education and self-reliant modern methods of farming in Sudan. Naik apprised the visiting minister about the status of proposed participation in exploration Blocks 5A & 5B and in other exploration blocks in Sudan being pursued by ONGC Videsh.