(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM)
Oil India Limited (OIL) and Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) have entered into a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) for Exploration Blocks MN-UDWHP-2023/1, CB-ONHP-2022/2, and AS-ONHP-2022/2, awarded under OALP Bid Round-IX, covering an area of around 10,965 sq. km. The Block MN-UDWHP-2023/1 in Mahanadi Basin is located in the Ultradeep waters of Bay of Bengal with bathymetry beyond 2500 m isobath, whereas block AS-ONHP-2022/2 is located in the south-west of Meghalaya, one of the most challenging region of Assam Shelf Basin and shall open up new exploration opportunities in the hydrocarbon landscape.

The signing ceremony took place on 12th August, 2025 at Deendayal Upadhyay Urja Bhavan, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. The agreement was signed by Anup Kumar, Executive Director (E&D), OIL, and Dinesh Singh, Chief (Exploration JV & BD), ONGC, in the presence of Shri Saloma Yomdo, D(E&D), OIL, Arunangshu Sarkar, Director (Strategy & Corporate Affairs), ONGC, Om Prakash Sinha, Director (Exploration), ONGC, along with other officials from both the companies. This collaboration endeavour marks a momentous landmark, reflecting a strong synergy between the two National Oil Companies to drive the collective pursuit of hydrocarbon exploration and sustainable growth to meet the energy security of the country.