Murli Deora

Former Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology

Murli Deora is an economics graduate and a veteran politician with India’s dominant Congress Party. He served as Mayor of his native Mumbai from 1977 to 1978 and was later elected four times as member of parliament for Mumbai South, a seat now held by his son, Milind.

Deora joined the cabinet only in 2006, shortly before he turned 70. Mani Shankar Aiyar, his predecessor as Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, was seen as hostile towards the United States, prompting speculation that Deora’s appointment was a conciliatory gesture towards US energy interests. In office, Deora led oil diplomacy in Myanmar, Algeria and Egypt, and courted ministers from Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia and Comoros.

After hosting the first India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conference and Exhibition in November 2007, Deora and officials at the Petroleum Ministry have been dropping tantalising hints to resource-rich African nations: ONGC Videsh Ltd., the overseas arm of the state oil company, plans to invest US$12 billion between 2012-2017; much of that money could go to Africa, they suggest.

Deora had recently been busy fending off a liquid natural gas (LNG) shortage brought on by increased demand during an unusually cold Indian winter. The shortage should lend weight to Deora’s plans to increase LNG imports from Nigeria, Algeria and Egypt.

In July 2011 Deora took the position as Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology.