The India government mooted an eight-point Cooperation Framework in the hydrocarbon sector between India and African nations at India-Africa Conference and Exhibition on Hydrocarbons which was organised from November 6-7. A total of 26 African countries including ministerial delegations from 10 countries attended the two-day event.



Indian Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora proposed the eight-point agenda while addressing the Valedictory Session of the conference. The proposal includes forging of hydrocarbon cooperation agreements between India and African countries covering E&P and downstream policy issues, increased oil business between Indian oil refineries and African oil and gas producing nations and cooperation in research and development and technology transfer.



Setting up joint working groups, exchange of visits on an increasing scale between businesses and government delegations, cooperation in retail marketing of petro products and lubricants by Indian companies in the African markets and training of technical and managerial personnel of the African oil industry in India are other proposals mooted by the Indian government.



The India-Africa Hydrocarbons Conference has been made a bi-annual event and the next conference would be held in New Delhi in 2009. The minister said the effort would be to broaden the scope of the conference in 2009 based on the suggestions and feedback from the participants in this year event.



African countries which participated in the conference were Algeria, Central African Republic, Cote d’ Ivoire, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan Togo and Tunisia, Tanzania and Zambia.



Besides, leading national and international energy companies, oil sector service providers, equipment manufacturers, banking, insurance and institutional investors, shipping, pipeline and transportation companies, natural gas producing companies and petrochemical companies took part in the conference.