Indian Express

Burma to sell gas to India

14 May 2006

The Burmese Ambassador to India Heu Kyi Thein said his country would sell gas to India and China.

Speaking at a conference organised in New Delhi by the Chambers of Indian Industry, Thien said Burma would sell gas from its offshore A-1 field to India through a land route bypassing Bangladesh, PTI news agency reported.
 

India and Burma share a border along India's northeastern states.

A consortium comprising India's state-run ONGC Videsh Limited and Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), Daewoo of South Korea and the South Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) are exploring the A-1 oilfield.

The operations are to be run by Daewoo which holds a 60-per-cent stake in them. India's ONGC holds 20 per cent, while GAIL and KOGAS hold 10 per cent each.

The Burmese government has been discussing with both India and China sales of gas from the A-1 field.

"Surely, We will sell gas to India," Thein said while replying to a query from an OVL official who suggested that gas should be exported to India to increase bilateral trade.

"Enough gas is there. We would sell it to both India and China," Thein said.
 

He said memoranda of understanding had been signed with China and India and negotiations were ongoing to reach final agreements.

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