External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukheerjee was on a two-day visit to Oman during the week to strengthen bilateral relations and pursue joint approach to energy projects. Official sources indicated that India might be the recipient of future excess gas from Oman1. Reports noted that Oman and Iran were negotiating the transfer of gas from Iran’s Kish and Hengam gas fields while work was already progressing on the Dolphin Gas Project, which would bring natural gas from Qatar to the UAE and Oman. Another vital reason that enhanced Oman’s position was due to its geographical location near the Arabian Sea, which offered the possibility of Indian hydrocarbon transits to bypass the vulnerable Straits of Hormuz

• 1. Atul Aneja, “India and Oman to explore options in oil and gas,” The Hindu, January 15, 2008 at http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/15/stories/2008011554601500.htm