Sri Lanka explores liquified natural gas usage

Sri Lanka is seriously looking at the possibility of utilising liquified natural gas as a source of energy. Research is being done of several alternative sources of energy, said Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha.

He was addressing the 'Petrotech 2010' international seminar which began in New Delhi on October 31. The Petrotech Seminar and Exhibition opened by Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh concluded November 3.

Premajayantha said drilling of the first oil well in the Mannar basin in Sri Lanka would commence during the first quarter next year.

Sri Lanka also hoped to drill for oil in the Canveri Basin and conduct off shore oil prospecting near Kirinda in Southern Sri Lanka shortly, the Minister said.

He said the Petrotech Seminar and exhibition would be very useful for Sri Lanka in achieving these objectives.

A Petroleum Industries Ministry press release said the Petrotech Seminar which began in 1995 is held every two years.

This year's seminar held on the theme Global Energy Equality was attended by Petroleum Ministers and officials of several countries.