Lok Sabha Question No. 3412 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-20
Subject: New Oil and Gas Exploration Projects in Gulf of Mannar Region
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Km. Sudha R

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3412

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 March, 2025

## New Oil and Gas Exploration Projects in Gulf of Mannar Region

3412: KM. Sudha R

## पेᮝोिलयम और ᮧाकृ ितक गैस मंᮢी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state :

- (a) the  details  of  environmental  clearances  given  to  oil  and  gas  exploration  projects  since 2014, State-wise;
- (b) whether  the  environmental  clearances,  financial  allocations  and  award  of  contract completed in case of new oil and gas exploration blocks in the ecologically fragile Gulf of Mannar region, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the companies both Government and Private given contracts since 2014 to conduct such explorations with site details;
- (d) Whether any new oil and gas exploration projects given in the Cauvery Delta districts including  Mayiladuthurai  Parliamentary  Constituency  which  covers  three  assembly constituencies in Thanjavur districts as well since 2024; and
- (e)  if so, the details of such explorations cancelled since 2014 and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## पेĚोͧलयम और Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğालय मɅ राÏय मंğी ( Įी सुरेश गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a)  The  State-wise  details  of  environmental  clearances  given  to  oil  and  gas  exploration projects since 2014 is attached as Annexure I.

(b) & (c) Since 2014, No contract has been awarded to any operator in respect of exploration of any block falling in Gulf of Mannar.

(d)  No  new  oil  and  gas  exploration  projects  have  been  undertaken  in  the  Cauvery  Delta Districts including Mayiladuthurai Parliamentary Constituency which covers three assembly constituencies in Thanjavur districts as well since 2024.

(e)    Two  exploration  blocks,  namely  CY-ONHP-2017/1  (Onland)  and  CY-ONHP-2018/2 (Onland)  awarded  to  M/s  Oil  and  Natural  Gas  Corporation  Limited  (ONGC)  have  been relinquished by the Operator due to non grant of Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) by the State Government of Tamil Nadu.

*****

## ANNEXURE I

|   Sl. No. | Proposal Number        | Company                                      | State             |
|-----------|------------------------|----------------------------------------------|-------------------|
|         1 | IA/AP/IND2/102271/2013 | M/S VEDANTA LIMITED(DIVISION CAIRN OIL &GAS) | Andhra Pradesh    |
|         2 | IA/AR/IND2/123232/2018 | OIL INDIA LIMITED                            | Arunachal Pradesh |
|         3 | IA/AS/IND2/83554/2014  | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED      | Assam             |
|         4 | IA/AS/IND2/63434/2017  | OIL INDIA LIMITED                            | Assam             |
|         5 | IA/AS/IND2/61229/2016  | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED      | Assam             |
|         6 | IA/AS/IND2/92824/2007  | OIL INDIA LIMITED                            | Assam             |
|         7 | IA/AS/IND2/72322/2018  | OIL INDIA LIMITED                            | Assam             |
|         8 | IA/AS/IND3/185398/2008 | OIL INDIA LIMITED                            | Assam             |
|         9 | IA/AS/IND2/414841/2023 | M/S VEDANTA LIMITED(DIVISION CAIRN OIL &GAS) | Assam             |
|        10 | IA/AS/IND2/71746/2017  | OILMAX ENERGY PRIVATE LIMITED                | Assam             |
|        11 | IA/AS/IND2/187643/2007 | OIL INDIA LIMITED                            | Assam             |
|        12 | IA/AS/IND2/212735/2007 | OIL INDIA LIMITED                            | Assam             |
|        13 | IA/AS/IND2/99149/2019  | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED      | Assam             |
|        14 | IA/AS/IND2/71708/2017  | OILMAX ENERGY PRIVATE LIMITED                | Assam             |
|        15 | IA/AS/IND2/56473/2016  | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED      | Assam             |
|        16 | IA/AS/IND2/246799/2018 | OIL INDIA LIMITED                            | Assam             |
|        17 | IA/AS/IND2/75479/2018  | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED      | Assam             |
|        18 | IA/AS/IND2/252318/2020 | M/S INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LIMITED           | Assam             |
|        19 | IA/AS/IND2/75296/2018  | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED      | Assam             |
|        20 | IA/AS/IND2/226998/2017 | OIL INDIA LIMITED                            | Assam             |
|        21 | IA/AS/IND2/31891/2014  | HINDUSTAN OIL EXPLORATION COMPANY LTD        | Assam             |
|        22 | IA/AS/IND2/248260/2016 | OIL INDIA LIMITED                            | Assam             |
|        23 | IA/AS/IND2/423980/2023 | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED      | Assam             |
|        24 | IA/GJ/IND2/75954/2018  | BHARAT PETRORESOURCES LTD.                   | Gujarat           |
|        25 | IA/GJ/IND2/64683/2017  | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED      | Gujarat           |
|        26 | IA/GJ/IND2/83890/2018  | M/S VEDANTA LIMITED(DIVISION CAIRN OIL &GAS) | Gujarat           |
|        27 | IA/GJ/IND2/197194/2017 | GUJARAT STATE PETROLEUM CORPORATION LTD.     | Gujarat           |
|        28 | IA/GJ/IND2/414546/2023 | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED      | Gujarat           |
|        29 | IA/GJ/IND2/73049/2018  | GUJARAT STATE PETROLEUM CORPORATION LTD.     | Gujarat           |
|        30 | IA/GJ/IND2/71624/2017  | MERCATOR PETROLEUM LIMITED                   | Gujarat           |
|        31 | IA/GJ/IND2/238854/2007 | OILEX LTD                                    | Gujarat           |
|        32 | IA/GJ/IND2/74678/2018  | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION              | Gujarat           |
|        33 | IA/GJ/IND2/81450/2010  | SUN PETROCHEMICALS PRIVATE LIMITED           | Gujarat           |

|   Sl. No. | Proposal Number        | Company                                              | State            |
|-----------|------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------|
|        34 | IA/GJ/IND2/60507/2016  | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED              | Gujarat          |
|        35 | IA/GJ/IND2/221473/2019 | GAIL INDIA LIMITED                                   | Gujarat          |
|        36 | IA/GJ/IND2/151758/2011 | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED              | Gujarat          |
|        37 | IA/GJ/IND2/69699/2017  | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED              | Gujarat          |
|        38 | IA/GJ/IND2/81587/2009  | SUN PETROCHEMICALS PRIVATE LIMITED                   | Gujarat          |
|        39 | IA/GJ/IND2/150670/2020 | JOSHI TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL INC - INDIA PROJECT | Gujarat          |
|        40 | IA/HP/IND2/72539/2018  | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED              | Himachal Pradesh |
|        41 | IA/MP/IND2/110504/2017 | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED              | Madhya Pradesh   |
|        42 | IA/MH/IND2/73142/2018  | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED              | Maharashtra      |
|        43 | IA/MZ/IND2/79938/2014  | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED              | Mizoram          |
|        44 | IA/RJ/IND2/67524/2017  | OIL INDIA LTD RAJASTHAN PROJECT                      | Rajasthan        |
|        45 | IA/RJ/IND2/99919/2019  | M/S VEDANTA LIMITED(DIVISION CAIRN OIL &GAS)         | Rajasthan        |
|        46 | IA/TR/IND/3403/2008    | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED              | Tripura          |
|        47 | IA/TR/IND2/210752/2007 | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED              | Tripura          |
|        48 | IA/TR/IND2/134348/2019 | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED              | Tripura          |
|        49 | IA/WB/IND2/407038/2022 | OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LIMITED              | West Bengal      |

Source: Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change