The ministry of external affairs on Thursday made its first move to get the maximum volume of business for Indian companies in post-war Iraq.

An inter-ministerial meeting was convened in New Delhi by R M Abhyankar, additional secretary in the ministry of external affairs, to work out a strategy for projecting Indian expertise in handling the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country.

It has been decided that the country will take pre-emptive action in expressing its interest in various reconstruction jobs, especially in the hydrocarbon, power and roadways sectors, where some Indian companies have successfully undertaken projects abroad.

It has been decided that Engineers India Ltd, which has implemented various refinery and petrochemical projects within and outside the country, is well-placed to compete with other multinationals for contracts for rehabilitating refineries in Iraq, which were damaged partially or fully. Gail (India) Ltd has experience in laying gas pipelines, which can be gainfully utilised in Iraq.

ONGC Videsh Ltd, the overseas arm of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, can also take part in the exploration and production jobs in Iraq.

It was felt at the meeting that the Iraqi authorities might not review the production-sharing contract, which the Saddam Hussain regime had signed with ONGC Videsh for Block 8 after proper vetting and approval at various levels.

"Indications are that the new authorities will honour the Block 8 production-sharing contract, since it was signed after a prolonged appraisal by various authorities in Iraq. Any arbitrary cancellation of this contract can send a wrong signal to the world community," an official said.

However, there are doubts about the award of Tuba field to ONGC Videsh. This field was at an advanced stage of negotiations when war broke out in that region.

"Everything was finalised and the contract was to be signed when the war broke out," the official said. India wants to restart the process from where it was left at the time of outbreak of hostilities.

A team of ONGC Videsh officials has already visited Iraq after the war. However, another team, led by Atul Chandra, managing director, ONGC Videsh, is expected to visit Baghdad once the situation becomes normal there.

The government is also keen on importing a large quantity of Basra Light crude from Iraq, since most of the Indian refineries are configured to process that crude.

India was a large importer of this grade of crude prior to the 1991 war in Iraq. These imports were stopped following the United Nations sanctions on exports from that country.

Now that these sanctions have been lifted, India is hopeful of a meaningful dialogue with Iraq on this issue.