India has urged West Asian oil exporting countries that they should charge the same price for oil from western countries and the consumers east of the Suez.
Currently, West Asian crude under term contracts from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iran for consumers east of the Suez, including India, are priced higher by $1.5-2 a barrel, free on board, than for the North American and European markets.
The request was made by petroleum minister Ram Naik during his talks with counterparts from West Asian nations attending the International Energy Forum meeting in Osaka. The West Asian oil ministers appreciated India's concern and assured Naik that they would examine the issue, an official press release said today.
Naik also urged his Iranian counterpart for an early decision and approval by Teheran to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's offer for the Farsi exploration block. The Iranian oil minister said his government would try to clear ONGC's proposal by the end of October.
The two ministers, according to the release, also reviewed the progress made on the survey for the offshore route for the proposed Iran-India gas pipeline.
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India
