India’s Offshore Gamble: ONGC, Reliance and BP Unite in Saurashtra
India’s growing dependence on imported crude oil has become a defining challenge for its economy. The country now imports nearly 85% of its oil requirements, creating a $220bn annual burden. Against this backdrop, three very different players — ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation), Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and BP Exploration — have joined forces in a new consortium to explore the Saurashtra basin offshore block.
The partnership, under the government’s Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP-IX), will focus on Block GS-OSHP-2022/2 off the coast of Gujarat. ONGC will serve as the operator with a 40 per cent stake, while Reliance and BP each hold 30 per cent. The project has been billed by the Ministry of Petroleum as a strategic collaboration to enhance India’s energy security.
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