India Plans to Step Up O&G Investment in Africa

NEW DELHI (Dow Jones Newswires), Dec. 9, 2011

India's state-run companies are looking to acquire stakes in oil and gas blocks in Africa, form joint ventures in the continent and source natural gas to meet rising fuel demand at home, Indian Oil Minister S. Jaipal Reddy said Friday.

"Today as much as 21.5% of India's crude oil imports are from Africa. In the years ahead, we seek more crude oil and liquefied natural gas from Africa," Reddy said at a conference.

Africa is considered to have good hydrocarbon potential, with significant oil production coming from West Africa, and new promising gas discoveries in East Africa. Countries like China have already invested heavily in the region to develop its resources.

India, which faces a huge energy deficit and imports about 80% of its crude oil requirements, is scouting for hydrocarbon assets that can boost its energy security in the long term.

"Our companies are also interested in farm-in opportunities in producing blocks, especially in Libya, Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria," Reddy said. He added that companies like GAIL (India), Petronet LNG and Indian Oil are interested in sourcing natural gas on a long-term basis from Africa.

He said the companies would "explore possibilities of equity participation" in natural gas export projects, gas processing businesses and gas-based petrochemical projects in Africa.

"There is no ceiling on imports from Africa. We are trying to maximise our [oil supply] sources in Africa," Reddy said.

He didn't specify which projects Indian oil companies were eyeing, how much they would invest and where the money would come from. He said that "with Africa's economic development picking up momentum and its energy demands rising, India is keen to become a dependable supplier of petroleum products to Africa."

Reddy also said that India's crude oil imports from Iran remain on schedule and aren't facing any bottlenecks.

Trade settlement between the two countries was hit after India's central bank barred Iran-related payments from being processed through the Asian Clearing Union, a regional clearinghouse which the U.S. says is opaque and could be used by Tehran to finance its alleged nuclear-weapons program.

"The government of Iran is eager to help us in supplying oil in spite of many disturbing developments at the global level. Payment issues are being settled," Reddy said.

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