India Launches OALP Round 11: Unlocking 262,000 Sq Km for Energy Exploration

In a significant move to bolster domestic energy production, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, has announced the launch of Round 11 of the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP). 

This latest round, combined with Round 10, opens up approximately 262,817 sq km of land and sea for hydrocarbon exploration.

Key Expansion Details
The current offering represents a massive push toward energy self-reliance, categorized by:

OALP Round 11: Approximately 80,228 sq km.

OALP Round 10: Approximately 182,589 sq km across 25 blocks.

Block Diversity: The 25 blocks in Round 10 include six onland, six shallow water, one deepwater, and 12 ultra-deepwater blocks.

Strategic Vision: "Samudra Manthan"
Minister Puri framed the launch as a critical component of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Samudra Manthan initiative. The program aims to fast-track bidding processes and expand India’s sedimentary basin exploration to secure the nation's energy future.

"This is a decisive step... fast-tracking bidding, expanding acreage, and strengthening India’s energy security. The quest to discover India’s hidden energy wealth continues." — Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister

Investor Incentives and Policy Features
To attract global and domestic investors, the government has outlined several "investor-friendly" fiscal features for these blocks:

Revenue Sharing: No revenue sharing in Category II/III basins until windfall gains are achieved.

Incentives: Reduced graded royalty for offshore blocks and revenue sharing at Low Revenue Point (LRP) for the first 5–7 years in Category I basins.

Flexibility: Exploration rights are retained throughout the contract duration, and the "swapping" of work programs is permitted.

Broadening the Energy Mix
The ministry is also progressing with the Discovered Small Field (DSF) Bid Round-IV, which covers 55 discoveries across nine contract areas. Additionally, special Coal Bed Methane (CBM) bid rounds are scheduled for 2025 and 2026, offering 16 blocks in total to further diversify India's domestic energy portfolio.
Source: ANI