Sudan Proposes Mechanisms to Settle Debts Owed to Indian Oil Companies
Sudan’s Minister of Energy, Engineer and Consultant Al-Mu‘tasim Ibrahim, said the ministry is working to settle outstanding debts owed to Indian companies, foremost among them ONGC. He stressed that these debts should not pose an obstacle to the continuation of cooperation between the two sides.
During his meeting with India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, on the sidelines of the Indian Energy Week 2026 in Goa, India, the minister noted that one of the proposed mechanisms includes granting the company new exploration blocks through revitalizing the work of the joint team.
The minister affirmed that Sudan is seeking to strengthen its cooperation with the Republic of India to rebuild the energy sector following the extensive damage inflicted on oil infrastructure as a result of the war waged by the militia.
He added that Sudan aims to deepen cooperation with India in the fields of oil and energy to rehabilitate damaged facilities and resume production.
Al-Mu‘tasim described India as a “historic partner” of Sudan, emphasizing that cooperation between the two countries in the oil and energy sector spans decades and has continued even under the most difficult circumstances. He said: “There is a deeply rooted historical relationship between Sudan and India, particularly in the oil and energy industry, and this cooperation continues to move forward.”
The minister participated on the first day of the events in the Arab–Indian Dialogue, chaired by India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, where he outlined in detail the challenges facing Sudan’s oil sector and the government’s strategy to address them. He underscored that Sudan views India as a key partner in the next phase, and that his participation in Indian Energy Week reflects this orientation.
On a related note, the minister met with the Chairman and Managing Director of NTPC, a company operating in the fields of thermal, hydroelectric, and solar power plant operation and maintenance. The two sides discussed prospects for cooperation between the ministry and the company in the coming period.
