Russias biggest energy company Gazprom, which is one of the world’s largest natural gas extractor, has agreed to support Sri Lanka in oil exploration in off the Mannar coast and also to enhance the facilities in oil refineries, Presidents Media Division said.
The Gazprom Chairman Alexei Miller announced their willingness to carry out oil exploration in the Mannar Basin when he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a meeting held in St. Petersburg, where the 15th International Economic Forum.
Miller said the company would send a group of expert to Sri Lanka for a feasibility study on oil exploration. The Gazprom, which was formed in 1989, is involved in engaged in geological exploration, production, transportation, storage, processing and marketing of hydrocarbons. It also engaged in generation and marketing of heat and electric power.