Cairn Energy to start pumping India oil this week

The announcement came as Cairn also said it had swung into a loss during the first half of 2009.

Edinburgh-based Cairn aims to pump 175,000 barrels per day — accounting for close to 25 per cent of India’s current oil output — from its fields in the desert state of Rajasthan by 2011.

Some industry experts believe that figure could climb to at least 205,000 bpd. The company plans to pump 30,000 bpd initially.

“The significant milestone of first oil production from Rajasthan will soon be achieved,five years after the discovery of the Mangala field,” Cairn chairman Norman Murray said.