Context:
On the occasion of the 79th Independence Day, the Prime Minister of India announced the launch of the National Deep Water Exploration Mission to accelerate the discovery of offshore oil and gas reserves. The initiative will focus on areas such as the Andaman Sea and deep waters off the Andhra coast, with the goal of achieving energy self-reliance.
About the Mission
- What it is:
- A flagship energy security initiative to explore untapped oil and gas reserves beneath India’s seabed.
- Designed to operate in mission mode for accelerated offshore exploration.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
- Supporting Agencies: Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) and allied research institutions.
Key Features:
- Deep-Water Focus: Targeting unexplored offshore zones like the Andaman-Nicobar basin and Andhra coast.
- Policy Reforms Backing: Linked with the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) and recent exploration-friendly legislative changes.
- Large-Scale Bidding: Opening over 1 million sq km of erstwhile ‘No-Go’ areas for exploration.
- Advanced Technology: Use of seismic surveys, modern drilling techniques, and AI-enabled exploration tools.
- Public-Private Collaboration: Encouraging both domestic and global players to invest.
Objectives
- Reduce dependence on crude oil and natural gas imports.
- Enhance domestic hydrocarbon production capacity.
- Strengthen India’s long-term energy security.
- Promote Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the energy sector.
