Russian-Indian cooperation in the oil and gas sector could make India the first non-Arctic state to extract resources in the Arctic, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with The Times of India.

"We are establishing cooperation in geological exploration and joint development of oil and gas fields in the territory of the two countries, including offshore projects, which will eventually allow India to become the first non-Arctic state extracting resources in the Arctic. Specifically, Indian companies are participating in the development of oil and gas fields under the Sakhalin-1 project, as well as the Vankor oil and gas condensate field," the minister said.

Moscow and New Delhi are looking into ways to improve the energy supply routes from Russia to Indian partners. The agencies concerned are studying the possibility of expanding cooperation in the field of hydroelectric and thermal power generation and energy efficiency, as well as in the design and construction of renewable energy facilities, the foreign minister added.