ONGC starts NE India exploration

agartala (India) — Stateowned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has began exploration works in northeast India to attract more gas based industries in the region, a top official said.

“ONGC has vigorously embarked on exploration works to explore more natural gas,” ONGC director for onshore V.P. Mahawar told reporters here late on Saturday. “ONGC has targeted to drill 31 wells in this fiscal in different parts of Assam, but the company by the end of outgoing financial year [2016-17], would drill 33 wells.”

The official said that ONGC, as part of the government’s “Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for North-East India”, is working more energetically to discover gas and oil in new areas of the resource-rich region.

The initiative launched last year aims at doubling oil and gas production by 2030, making clean fuel accessible, fast-tracking projects, generating employment opportunities and promoting cooperation with neighbouring countries.

Mahawar said exploration in Nagaland has been halted due to some “loyalty- and land-related” issues. However, talks are on to solve the disputes.

In Arunachal Pradesh, however, the progress has not been encouraging. Though gas reserves are available in the state, more exploration activities are have to be undertaken, Mahawar said.

In Tripura, ONGC has already drilled 220 wells. —