Working hard to develop offshore reserves: BP chief

According to Veerappa Moily, both RIL and BP have indicated that they were investing $8-10 billion in KG-D6 block

BP Plc chief Bob Dudley today said his company was working very hard to further develop offshore gas reserves in India. BP along with its partner Reliance Industries Ltd is currently locked in a dispute with the government on raising gas production from the KG-D6 block in which the British company has 30% stake.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with finance minister P Chidambaram, Dudley said the company was hoping to play a role along the entire spectrum of energy right from oil and gas to coal. " India is a fast growing population and the needs of energy growth in India will be quite strong and that will bring prosperity and jobs to people. Gas, oil, coal, renewables, we are hoping to play a role in that."

Dudley who is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later today said, "I want to express BP's commitment to India. We have invested a great deal in India. I would let him know the progress we are making in upstream and downstream."

Dudley had earlier met petroleum minister Veerappa Moily. Briefing mediapersons, Moily said both RIL and BP have indicated that they were investing $8-10 billion in the KG-D6 block. He said till now the two companies have invested around $12 billion.