By IANS,
New Delhi : The Indian government has invested up to $2.562 billion (Rs.11,639 crore) in various projects in undivided Sudan till September 2012 through state-owned ONGC Videsh Limited(OVL).
Panabaka Lakshmi, minister of state for petroleum and natural gas, gave this information in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha Tuesday.
During the period before South Sudan became independent, OVL incurred a production loss of 0.8 million metric tonnes (MMT) of oil.
The minister said a temporary stoppage of production for 20 days in April 2012 when border conflict broke out between Sudan and South Sudan resulted in a deferment of an estimated production of about 0.8. million metric tonne(MMT) of oil.
She added that the government has been in touch with both the countries through diplomatic channels.
And when Sudan’s petroleum minister visited the country last month, “various oil related bilateral issues, including protecting OVL interest in Sudan, were discussed”, she said.