Russia and Pakistan have discussed cooperation in offshore oil and gas exploration and refining during intergovernmental meetings in Moscow, according to Reuters.

“Yesterday we received a rather interesting proposal from Pakistan in the area of offshore ​​oil and gas exploration, increasing oil recovery at mature fields, and in oil refining,” said Russia’s deputy energy minister, Roman Marshavin.

Talks also covered the prospect of Russia supplying Pakistan with crude oil and grains.

“We export food and agricultural products and expect the resumption of grain supplies. We positively assess the growth in exports of Russian-made mineral fertilizers to Pakistan that has emerged this year,” Marshavin added.

Russia began regular oil supplies to Pakistan in 2022 as an EU embargo on Moscow’s energy supplies pushed it to seek new buyers for its fuel.

“There are stable deliveries of Russian oil to Pakistan… Work is underway to increase such deliveries and diversify commodity groups,” Roman Marshavin said, according to the report.

Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister, Musadik Malik, earlier confirmed that his government had restarted talks with Russia over crude supply. However, he denied local media reports suggesting that Pakistan was finalizing a deal to import one cargo of crude oil from Russia each month starting in 2025.