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Amit Shah, PM Modi Meet Andaman LG; Focus on Energy Security

Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Admiral DK Joshi, in New Delhi. The LG also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the same day, as confirmed by official posts on social media platform X. The meetings come amid sustained government efforts to explore hydrocarbon reserves in the Andaman-Nicobar Basin to enhance India's energy security. Significant exploratory work, including seismic data acquisition and drilling, is already underway in allocated blocks under the national hydrocarbon policy.

Key Points: Amit Shah, Modi Meet Andaman LG, Discuss Hydrocarbon Exploration

  • Amit Shah meets Andaman LG in Delhi
  • LG also met PM Modi same day
  • Govt exploring oil in Andaman-Nicobar Basin
  • Four blocks allocated for exploration under HELP policy
2 min read

Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah meets Andaman and Nicobar Islands LG

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi met Andaman LG Admiral DK Joshi. Talks focused on oil exploration in the AN Basin for energy security.

"The Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Admiral (Retd.) D K Joshi met Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri @AmitShah. - Home Minister's Office"

New Delhi, March 22

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday met the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Admiral DK Joshi in the national capital.

Taking it on X, the Home Minister's office wrote, "The Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Admiral (Retd.) D K Joshi met Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri @AmitShah."

The Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister's Office wrote, "Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Admiral D K Joshi, (Retd.) met Prime Minister @narendramodi."

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the Central Government is taking sustained measures to explore and identify crude oil and hydrocarbon reserves in the Andaman-Nicobar Basin, aiming to contribute to the country's long-term energy security and reduce import dependence.

Following the introduction of the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), the Government has allocated four blocks for oil and gas exploration in the Andaman-Nicobar Basin, covering approximately 23,261 square kilometres (SKM).

Exploratory efforts have resulted in the acquisition of 8,501-line kilometres of 2-Dimensional (2D) seismic data and 3,270 SKM of 3D seismic data in these blocks, and three wells have been drilled in these blocks so far. Furthermore, under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) - X, four blocks with a total area of 47,058 sq. km have been offered in the Andaman Basin.

India's Hydrocarbon Resource Assessment Study (HRAS) estimates hydrocarbon resources of 371 million Metric Tons of Oil Equivalent (MMTOE) in the AN Basin. Subsequent to HRAS 2017, a 2D broadband seismic survey was completed in 2024 covering approximately 80,000 line kilometres of India's Exclusive Economic Zone (including in Andaman offshore). This has helped acquire the essential sub-surface data required for identifying prospective hydrocarbon reserves. The government, through Oil India Limited (OIL) has also acquired a total of 22,555 Line Kilometres (LKM) of 2D seismic data in the Deep Andaman Offshore Survey during 2021-22.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
While energy security is crucial, I hope these explorations are conducted with the utmost care for the fragile marine ecosystem of the Andamans. The balance between development and conservation is key.
R
Rohit P
Reducing import dependence is the need of the hour. Every rupee saved on oil imports strengthens our economy. Hope the data leads to actual, viable production soon. Jai Hind!
P
Priyanka N
Meetings at this level are routine administrative work. The real news is in the details of the policy and its on-ground execution. The numbers (371 MMTOE) sound promising, but let's see the tangible results for the common man.
D
David E
The scale of the seismic data acquisition is impressive – 80,000 line km is no small feat. This shows serious intent. Strategic development in the Indian Ocean region is vital.
M
Meera T
Hope the local communities and tribes in the Andamans are consulted and their livelihoods protected. Development should be inclusive and not come at their cost.

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