Hardeep Puri Announces Launch of OALP Round 11 for Energy Exploration in India

India Unveils Round 11 of Open Acreage Licensing Policy, Unlocking Vast Frontiers for Energy Exploration

In a significant move towards strengthening India's energy security, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced the launch of Round 11 of the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) on Monday. This development marks a decisive step in the nation's energy journey, aligning with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the Samudra Manthan initiative.

The launch of OALP Round-XI is a crucial milestone in India's energy sector, with the government offering an impressive 80,228 square kilometers of area for exploration. When combined with the acreage offered in Round-X, the total area now on offer stands at approximately 262,817 square kilometers. This significant expansion of exploration acreage is expected to power growth, resilience, and self-reliance in the country.

Earlier in December, the government marked a transformative milestone in the energy sector by offering 50 new exploration and production (E&P) blocks across oil, gas, and coal bed methane (CBM) assets. This move reflected a renewed push to unlock domestic hydrocarbon potential and strengthen energy security, as stated by Minister Puri. The offering included 25 blocks under OALP-X, 55 fields across 9 contract areas/blocks under Discovered Small Field (DSF-IV), and 16 CBM blocks (3 in 2025 and 13 in 2026).

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Under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy, 25 blocks covering approximately 1.83 lakh square kilometers were on offer, comprising six onland blocks, six in shallow water, one deepwater block, and 12 ultra-deepwater blocks. The key features of these blocks include:

The main features of these blocks are:

• Exploration rights retained throughout the contract duration
• Revenue share at LRP for initial 5-7 years in Cat-I basins
• No revenue sharing in Cat-II/III until windfall gains
• Graded reduced royalty for offshore
• Swapping of work programme allowed

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In parallel, the Discovered Small Field (DSF) Bid Round-IV includes 55 discoveries spread across nine contract areas, aimed at accelerating the journey from discovery to production. With this initiative, the quest to unlock the potential of India's sedimentary basins gains a new thrust and momentum.