Import lobbies threaten every oil minister: Moily

Every petroleum minister is threatened by import lobbies to derail domestic exploration efforts aimed at achieving self sufficiency, Petroleum Minister M. Veerappa Moily claimed Friday.

"Every minister who is occupying this (petroleum) position is threatened. There is bureaucratic delay and obstruction and also other lobbies that don't want us to stop imports," Moily told mediapersons here.

However, "Moily cannot be threatened", said the minister.

He said the country is "floating on a sea of oil and gas and we're not exploring it" because of "threats and obstructions".