Daijiworld News Network- Mangalore (SR), pics by Dayanand Kukkaje

Mangalore, Dec 2: The first shipment of oil from Sakhalin and dedication of Isomerisation and mixed Xylene units of MRPL to the nation were the two mega events held by the State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on Saturday here.

Popular singer and actress Vasundara Das hosted the function which was presided over by Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora.

Speaking to the gathering Deora said that the ship contained 59 metric ton of crude oil. He also thanked the captain of the ship and the crew for bringing the ship safe to the NMPT harbour crossing the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean in16 days. Adding to this he also said that this is a significant project as it is the largest investment by any corporate in India’s overseas ventures.

Ambassador of the Russian Federation to India Vyacheslav Ivanovich Trubniko, former chief minister M Veerappa Moily, Large and Medium Industry Minister of Karnataka Katta Subramanya Naidu, DK district minister in-charge B Nagaraj Shetty, Mangalore MP D V Sadananda Gowda, Mangalore MLA N Yogish Bhat and Suratkal MLA Krishna Palemar were the chief guest.

Tribniko who spoke on the occasion expressed his gratitude to those persons who worked behind the OVL and Sakhalin-1 project which is the major investment of India to USSR. ONGC was the first Indian organization dealing with such a huge project, he said.
 
Veerappa Moily speaking to the gathering said that inspite of such projects and achievements in the state, there is on reduction in the petrol price, while other states have reduced oil prices.