Truss Welcomes Entry of Australian Oil and Gas Company Santos into India

The Australian Government Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, congratulated Australian oil and gas major Santos for being awarded two offshore deepwater exploration licenses in the Northern Bay of Bengal by the Indian Government.

Mr Truss, who is leading a 50-member business delegation to India, witnessed the signing of the contract for the two exploration blocks along with his Indian counterpart, the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Murli Deora, on 28 February in New Delhi. Also present at the signing were Santos’ Vice President (Exploration), Trevor Brown, and Group Executive (Government Strategy and Media Affairs), Christian Bennett.

Mr Truss said Santos was awarded the blocks as part of India’s most recent release of oil and gas exploration acreage.

“The move by Santos into India is a significant milestone in the growing bilateral trade and investment relationship with Australia. Energy and resources are a major element of this commercial relationship.

“Santos’ experience in deepwater exploration should make a contribution to the development of India’s rich natural gas reserves, which are in the early stages of development.

“Cooperation in the oil and gas sector is another good news story in our bilateral relations. This announcement comes on the heels of other smaller Australian oil and gas exploration companies such as Oilex and Norwest working in various states in India in consortium with Indian partners.

“Indian oil and gas companies are also exploring for oil and gas in Australia. Australian coal-bed methane technology is now being deployed in India, through Australia’s Arrow Energy. Our construction companies are also playing an increasing role in the development of India’s oil and gas infrastructure,” Mr Truss said.

Media Inquiries: Minister Truss' office 02 6277 7420 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555