India asks Yemen to expedite bidding for oil blocks

Dubai: India is likely to urge Yemen to expedite the bidding process of the two oil blocks for which ONGC Videsh, plans to bid, when petroleum minister Murli Deora visit Sana'a, Yemen's capital.

Deora is visiting Yemen as a part of the government's "oil diplomacy" initiative, will also explore possibilities of firming up oil supplies from Yemen when he meets his Yemense counterpart Khalid Mahfoudh Bahah in Sana'a, the country's capital.

Increased cooperation in oil sector will be the focus of talks between India and Yemen when the ministers meet on Saturday, Indian officials told on phone from the Yemense capital.

Deora is reaching Yemen after his visit to Libya in the first leg of his tour to tie up oil cooperation.

"India is expected to tell the Yemeni side about the need for expediting award of the oil concessions," officials said.

At present, India buys Yemeni crude at the spot market, but India is keen on term supplies so that it gets assured supplies.

Besides negotiations with Yemen for expanding cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector, a high-level delegation led Deora is also expected to visit the proposed site for downstream hydrocarbon projects like refineries and petrochemicals.