OVL, Mittal may set up refinery in Nigeria

ONGC Videsh (OVL), the overseas investment arm of state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, is in talks to set up a refinery in Nigeria, even as Indian companies look at sourcing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from African nations.

“In efforts to broad-base our activities, OVL is discussing setting up a greenfield refinery in Nigeria,” Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said at the second India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conference here today.

Though Deora did not give details, officials said he was referring to the proposal of OVL to build a 180,000-barrels per day refinery with steel baron Lakshmi Mittal, in return for oil blocks.

ONGC-Mittal Energy Ltd (OMEL), the joint venture of OVL and Mittal Investment Sarl, landed two Nigerian blocks — OPL 285 and OPL 279 — in the 2006 round, in return for downstream commitments either in power, rail or refining.

OMEL is the operator for the two blocks. OPL-285 is a deep-water block, where OMEL, through OMEL Energy Nigeria, holds 64.33 per cent interest and operatorship. The other partners in the block are local Nigerian company EMO (10 per cent), and French company Total (25.67 per cent interest). In OPL 276, Total has 14.5 per cent.

Deora said India was keen to expand import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Africa. “We are a stable, long-term and growing market for Africa’s natural gas. Our companies are interested in sourcing LNG as well as equity participation in existing and upcoming LNG terminals in Africa,” Deora said.

Indian companies are keen to participate in upcoming exploration and production opportunities in Angola, Ghana, Sudan, Nigeria, Uganda and Cote D’Ivoire. “Our companies are also interested in farm-in opportunities in producing blocks, especially in Libya, Algeria and Egypt,” he said.

Deora said India and Africa enjoy strong potential to work together for strengthening energy security. “Several African countries are endowed with rich hydrocarbon resources. India is a willing partner of Africa, ready to contribute technology, skills and investment to harness these resources in cost-effective manner for our common benefit.”