Russian min says India interested in Sakhalin-3 project

MOSCOW, September 3 (Itar-Tass) - India is interested in taking part
in the Sakhalin-3 oil and natural gas project in Russia's Far East,
Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said Thursday following
Russian-Indian talks, the business news agency PRIME-TASS reported.
Shmatko also said that many foreign companies, including Indian and
Korean companies and British-Dutch oil company Royal Dutch/Shell, were
interested in participating in the Sakhalin-3 project. The final decision
about partners will be made by gas giant Gazprom, Shmatko said.
The Sakhalin-3 project area has prospective reserves of 850 million
tonnes of oil and 800 billion cubic meters of natural gas. It includes the
Ayashsky, Vostochno-Odoptinsky, Kirinsky, and Veninsky blocks. Licenses
for the development of the first three blocks are held by Gazprom, while
the license to develop the Veninsky block is held by oil major Rosneft.
India is already taking part in the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project.
India is also interested in taking part in the construction of the
Sakhalin-Khabarovsk pipeline in Russia's Far East, Shmatko said.
Specifically, India wants to supply equipment for the pipeline's
construction. India's potential participation is still to be discussed, he
added.
-0-gor