Any Changes In Indian Energy Policy "Highly Unlikely" - AFP

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India's new business-friendly oil minister, Murli Deora, is unlikely to make any drastic changes to the country's energy policy, Indian energy analysts said Wednesday.

"(Deora) will adopt a less strident approach to the India-Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline because he does not like (seeing) India's improving relations with the U.S. worsened," said Amitav Ranjan of the Indian Express newspaper. Ranjan said Deora, unlike his energetic predecessor, Mani Shankar Aiyar, will shift his ministry's focus homeward and will also attempt to make state-run refineries and oil companies profitable.

There will be better coordination between the foreign office and the oil ministry, as Deora has hinted he would like better coordination on overseas energy issues.

The appointment of a senior Congress leader from western Maharashtra state as the new oil minister is to replace Aiyar, who was axed from the post apparently for his strong support for the India-Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline. The Indian foreign ministry was uncomfortable with Aiyar's support for the controversial pipeline as the United States was opposed to the venture and India did not want a confrontation on the issue.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/No_Change_In_India_Energy_Policy.html