The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has stepped up investor outreach to promote upcoming upstream oil and gas bid rounds, highlighting financing reforms and regulatory changes aimed at accelerating domestic exploration and production.
At a series of engagements held in Mumbai, the ministry showcased opportunities under the next Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) round, Discovered Small Fields (DSF) bidding and coal-bed methane (CBM) rounds. Officials outlined amendments to the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, revised petroleum rules and the updated Model Revenue Sharing Contract, which are intended to reduce regulatory uncertainty and improve capital efficiency for investors.
The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons detailed OALP Round X, offering 25 exploration blocks covering 1,82,589 sq km, with most areas offshore. DSF Round IV will include nine contract areas with discovered reserves, while new CBM blocks are planned over 2025–26.
The ministry also engaged lenders and insurers on financing challenges in upstream projects, including high upfront capital requirements and risk-sharing structures, as it seeks to align domestic financing frameworks with exploration risk cycles.
The outreach comes as India looks to boost domestic oil and gas production to reduce import dependence and strengthen energy security amid rising demand.
