Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s launch of the National Deep Water Exploration Mission, calling it a game-changer for India’s energy sector. Unveiled from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day, the mission aims to double the national oil and gas reserves by 2032 and triple production by 2047, significantly reducing dependence on energy imports.
In a post on X, Puri wrote, “The oil/gas reserves that will be obtained through deep water exploration will change the face of the country. India’s quest for energy security resonates from the ramparts of the Red Fort.” He highlighted that recent reforms, including the ORD Amendment Act, have boosted domestic hydrocarbon exploration.
India has made 52 discoveries in the past five years and 172 since 2014, including 66 offshore finds. Exploration acreage has expanded to over 0.38 million sq km, a dramatic increase from the 82,327 sq km allotted between 2009 and 2014.
The mission, aligned with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, will operate in Mission Mode to locate undersea oil and gas reserves. PM Modi described it as a modern ‘Samudra Manthan’, underlining its role in achieving energy self-reliance.
Earlier, the Ministry of Earth Sciences said deep-sea exploration would also enhance biodiversity studies, mineral surveys, and underwater engineering innovations, with immediate benefits in ocean technology and resource management.
