Energy Minister Gammanpila focuses on exploration of crude oil in UAE

The Media Unit of the Energy Ministry said these discussions were held with the officials of several companies, including Exxon Mobil, one of the largest companies in the world. The existence of crude oil deposits in the Mannar Basin has been discussed for decades and the dialogue has taken another boost with the fuel import crisis. Gammanpila recently told the media that all debts in Sri Lanka could be settled, had the oil been explored.

The Minister also held discussions with his United Arab Emirates counterpart and heads of oil companies pertaining to the purchase of petroleum on a long term loan basis to Sri Lanka. Minister Gammanpila is meanwhile scheduled to travel to Iran on an official visit following the Gastech conference.

He is scheduled to hold talks with Iran’s Minister of Petroleum Jawad Ovji on enhancing bilateral energy cooperation between the two countries.