W. Australia Deputy Premier meets Deora, MoU on oil and gas cooperation
15 Jul 2008, 1935 Hrs

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New Delhi, July 15 (ANI): Western Australia's Deputy Premier Eric Ripper today called on Petroleum and Natural Gas MInister Murli Deora.

The two leaders reportedly discussed ways of taking forward existing cooperation between India and Western Australia in the oil and gas sector. Both felt that there was potential for cooperation in various activities in these two sectors, especially in exploration and production, coal bed methane, LNG, etc.

During the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Directorate General of Hydrocarbons(DGH) of India and Department of Industry and Resources(DOIR) of Western Australia.

Stedman Illias, Deputy DG, DOIR and V.K. Sibal, DG, DGH, a technical arm of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry in the upstream sector, signed the MoU.

The two leaders described the MoU signed on Tuesday as a significant beginning in the cooperation between India and Western Australia.

The MoU aims at enhancing cooperation and understanding on oil and gas related issues and exchange information and pass on good practices in the development of policy on oil and gas exploration, production and field abandonment, exchange of expertise etc. It also identifies broad areas of cooperation. These include aquifer depletion specific to the oil and gas sector, enhanced oil recovery, coal bed methane gas, education and training, joint research and development and any other areas that are mutually agreed upon by both parties.

The two sides will seek to approve a programme of cooperation each year or such other jointly decided time period. The MoU is valid for a period of five years and may be further extended with mutual consent. (ANI)