Pradhan to lead oil, gas team to Colombia, Mexico

New Delhi, May 17
Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will lead an Indian delegation to Mexico and Colombia from Monday to strengthen mutual cooperation in hydrocarbons aimed at augmenting India's energy security, the petroleum ministry said.

During the May 18-21 visit "Pradhan will meet his counterparts as well as leaders of the hydrocarbon industry in both the Latin American countries", the ministry said in a statement here on Sunday.

"The Indian delegation comprises senior ministry officials, chairman of Indian Oil, managing director of ONGC Videsh Ltd. and senior officials from the Director General of Hydrocarbon," the statement added.

Mexico and Colombia are very important economic and energy partners of India, with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation's foreign arm, ONGC Videsh, having seven oil and gas blocks in Colombia, the ministry said.

India imports around 10 million tonnes of crude oil from Mexico and Colombia, it added.