Rosneft, which is the majority owner of India's second biggest private oil refinery, is keen to expand in the world's third largest and the fastest growing energy market.
Sechin first met Pradhan over breakfast, and then in delegation-level talks expressed interest in bidding for acquisition of government stake in Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL), an official privy to the discussions said.
The government is selling all of its 53 per cent stake in BPCL in the country's biggest privatisation plan.
The official said the government is expecting national oil companies from the Middle East, such as Aramco of Saudi Arabia and ADNOC of UAE, to join the bidding for BPCL. ANZ ANSANS