New Delhi, January 23

India has asked its oil firms to boost ties with resource-rich Africa as the South Asian nation wants to take advantage of tumbling crude prices to lock in supplies to meet future demand.

India is seen as the most important driver of energy demand growth in the world in the years to come with its oil consumption seen rising by six million barrels per day (bpd) to about 10 million bpd by 2040, as per International Energy Agency (IEA).

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year extended $10 billion in credit to African nations and pitched for a broad alliance for global reform.

“We want Indian oil companies to take advantage of the credit line extended for five years and strike deals ... we should take advantage of sliding oil prices and take active role in the development of African nations,” India’s Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told the India-Africa Hydrocarbons Conference, attended by ministers and officials of 22 African nations.

Oil has fallen to 12-year lows this year under pressure from a deepening supply glut and signs of economic weakness in China.

“India has strategic need for energy security and this is something that Africa can use,” said Ron Kapavik, vice president at IHS Energy. “India can be a natural market for African hydrocarbon resource.”

India, the world’s third biggest oil importer, has stepped up oil imports from Africa in 2015 and New Delhi wants to boost shipments from the region.

Indian Oil Corp, country’s largest refiner, has doubled imports from Nigeria at 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) for 2016-17 while Hindustan Petroleum Corp has sought similar volumes.

African nations want Indian investment to boost their oil output and develop infrastructure.

Equatorial Guinea has offered India equity in oil blocks, Pradhan said, while Algeria is keen on tie-ups with India for exploration and developing petrochemical projects. Sudan has offered three oil and gas blocks for exploration and development to ONGC Videsh.