India accelerates energy independence with new exploration initiatives: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

India is entering a transformative phase in its hydrocarbon sector, marked by a renewed focus on domestic exploration and production.

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, speaking at the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) Round-IX and Special Discovered Small Field (DSF) signing ceremony, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced a series of developments aimed at reducing the country’s reliance on energy imports.

Highlighting the nation's current dependence—88 per cent on crude oil and 50 per cent on natural gas—Puri said that the urgency of scaling up domestic output, adding that in the next two decades, 25 per cent of the world’s incremental energy demand growth will come from India.

The government has undertaken reforms to reinvigorate the upstream sector which suffered setbacks between 2006 and 2016.

Since 2014, India has expanded exploration coverage to 10 per cent of its sedimentary basins, targeting 15 per cent by 2030.

This includes a near-complete elimination of “No-Go” zones in the Exclusive Economic Zone.

Under OALP Round-IX, 28 blocks spanning 1.36 lakh square km across eight sedimentary basins were awarded, with 38 per cent located in previously restricted areas.

Moreover, two blocks were granted under the Special DSF Round, with a total of 60 bids received.

The Minister declared the launch of OALP Round-X at India Energy Week 2025.

Scientific and data-led exploration remains central to this push, supported by Rs 7,500 crore invested in seismic data acquisition and surveys.

The minister also highlighted that potential of unconventional energy sources, with India’s Coal Bed Methane reserves estimated at 2,600 BCM.

A Special CBM 2025 Round will offer three new blocks in West Bengal and Gujarat.

The Minister concluded with the launch of the PNG Rules Public Consultation Portal.

“India is building a resilient and future-ready energy ecosystem,” Puri said.