‘Huge potential to explore oil, gas in offshore UT areas’

India has significantly expanded its oil and gas exploration efforts, particularly offshore, with nearly 1 million square kilometers of previously restricted ‘No-Go' areas opened for exploration in 2022. This move has unlocked vast new opportunities in deepwater and frontier regions, including the Andaman-Nicobar offshore basin, the ministry of petroleum and natural gas informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

- Jayashree Nandi

Hardeep Singh Puri, minister of petroleum and natural gas said the bold policy move to open ‘No-Go’ areas has facilitated unprecedented access for exploration and isa key enabler of the recent momentum in offshore activity. He was responding to questions by John Brittas, CPIM MP on 1. details of the recent claims regarding significant offshore oil and gas discoveries in the country, including near the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, specifying the location and estimated reserve found; 2. whether these claims have been independently verified; and 3. timeline and plan for their commercial exploitation to reduce country’s import dependence while ensuring environmental safeguards?