New Delhi
12 January 2006
As Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Mani
Shankar Aiyar courts the Chinese in Beijing, the communist nation has
taken the battle for securing hydrocarbon reserves to Africa.
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing is on an eight-day, six-nation tour
of Africa that will taken him to Cape Verde, Senegal, Mali, Liberia, Nigeria
and Libya. He will scout for additional oil and gas supplies to meet
China's growing appetitie for energy besides cementing ties with
countries that have had relations with Taiwan.
Coinciding with the minister's visit, Bejing also released its Africa Policy
Paper, which details China's proposals for cooperation in international
affairs including the Unined Nations in addition to exchanges in the
military sphere. This is the first time China has issue a paper elaborating
its policy toward Africa.
The Chinese foreign minister will also attend the January 16 inauguration
of the President-elect of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleif, the first woman to
be elected President on the continent of Africa. United States First Lady
Laura Bush will also be leading a delegation that includes Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice to attend the inauguration.
The Indian ambassador to Liberia, Mr Amarendra Khatua, told this
newspaper that there was no word yet from New Delhi about who would
represent India at the inauguration of Ms Ellen Johnson-Sirleif. "Although I
have met the President-elect personally, I have not yet presented my
credentials therefore I possibly would not be in a position to atend her
inauguration," he said adding that New Delhi has not deputed any one
else.
Mr Khatua, however, observed that India has "a presence" in Liberia
(Mittal Group) and neighbouring countries and exuded confidence that
there will be achievements to show in the field of oil and gas also.
China is the second largest oil consumer. It gets a third of its oil from
Africa. Only recently, China's largest oil company, CNOOC, signed a deal
to buy Nigerian oil and gas. Incidentally, CNOOC's success owes itself to
India's decision to not purchase the oil field. In December last year, the
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs shot down ONGC's proposal to
acquire a 45 per cent stake in the oil and gas field.
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