Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday described the discovery of natural gas in the Mahanadi offshore basin as a significant milestone in India's efforts to strengthen energy security.
The discovery was made by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on September 18 at the MN-DW18-1-H-D well, located around 43 km off Konark, as part of the company's Samudra Manthan deepwater exploration campaign.
Majhi said the discovery has opened up a new frontier for offshore exploration along the Odisha coast and could create further opportunities for harnessing the region's offshore resources.
In a post on X, the chief minister said the encouraging flow from ONGC's maiden deepwater well under the Samudra Manthan initiative marked an important step in India's deepwater exploration efforts.
The discovery is significant as India continues to explore domestic energy resources and reduce dependence on imported fuels. Further assessment and exploration will be required to determine the scale and commercial potential of the gas find.
The development also highlights the growing focus on India's offshore basins as the country seeks to expand domestic oil and natural gas production.
