Himalayan News Service

Astana (Kazakhstan), July 8:

Energy deficient India and energy surplus Kazakhstan are set to enter a new phase of cooperation when ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) reopens its regional office here by Sunday and gets later to choose an exploration block in the country. “Discussions are going on about two offshore oil blocks. One of them will be given to OVL,” said a senior Indian official here. ONGC officials have already arrived here for the office opening. A confidentiality agreement will be signed with the state-owned firm KazMunaiGaz (KMG) after OVL — the external arm of India’s national oil company ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) — gets to pick one of the two exploration blocks. The blocks are in the lucrative Caspian region, Satpayev and Makhanbet. OVL will select one. The offer was first discussed during petroleum minister Mani Shankar Aiyar’s visit here in February.