The The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the governments of Assam and Nagaland to accelerate domestic exploration and production (E&P) of hydrocarbons in the Northeast region. has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the governments of Assam and Nagaland to accelerate domestic exploration and production (E&P) of hydrocarbons in the Northeast region.
File Photo: IANS
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the governments of Assam and Nagaland to accelerate domestic exploration and production (E&P) of hydrocarbons in the Northeast region.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said the Northeast holds significant potential for oil and gas exploration, with Assam alone accounting for nearly 22 per cent of India’s crude oil reserves and around 15 per cent of the country’s natural gas reserves.
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He highlighted that Nagaland also possesses considerable hydrocarbon potential in the Naga-Schuppen Belt of the Assam-Arakan Basin, an area known for naturally flowing hydrocarbons as well as substantial untapped reserves.
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The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation between the Centre and the two state governments, aimed at providing greater certainty to investors, ensuring regulatory coordination, enabling operational continuity, and supporting long-term investment decisions in the upstream oil and gas sector.
The agreement focuses on restarting mineral oil exploration activities in the Disputed Area Belt (DAB) along the Assam-Nagaland border, where operations have remained stalled for more than three decades due to jurisdictional issues.
The government said the resumption of exploration activities is expected to generate employment, encourage local entrepreneurship, strengthen infrastructure, create opportunities for contractors and service providers, and contribute to the economic development of communities across the Northeast.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said the MoU could significantly boost production capacity in the region, with current extraction levels of around 1,000–1,500 barrels per day potentially increasing more than tenfold.
The framework will also focus on ensuring the safety and security of personnel and assets, improving coordination among stakeholders, encouraging investment in the upstream petroleum sector, and advancing India’s broader energy security objectives.
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