Indian oil firm urges shifting Palk Bay exploration project

Chemical News: Indian oil firm urges shifting Palk Bay exploration project

https://www.chemnet.com Oct 15,2007 Xinhua
NEW DELHI, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- India's oil and natural gas corporation (ONGC) has called for shifting its shallow-water oil exploration project in the Palk Bay, saying the present site falls under marine biosphere, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported Saturday.

"We have only done some seismic survey and could not do more activities as the block comes under the marine biosphere, with the environment department objecting to any further work," R. S. Sharma, the chairman and managing director of the ONGC, told reporters in the southern city of Chennai.

The federal government, therefore, should shift it to another site in the Palk Bay, he added.

He also announced plans that a group of ONGC officials, led by petroleum minister Murli Deora, would leave for Moscow on Oct. 23 to bid for Sakhalin-3 oil and gas blocks.

"The delegation is expected to stay there for about three to four days and we will use diplomatic sources to clinch the project," PTI quoted him as saying.

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