Assam government signs pact with Oil India for exploration in lower Assam areas

The Assam government has signed petroleum exploration licence deeds for two open acreage licensing policy (OALP) blocks with Oil India Limited (OIL). OIL will invest around Rs 120 billion in these projects and will start seismic surveys from February 2023. The two OALP blocks are AA-ONHP-2021/2 and AA-ONHP-2021/3. The area under the block, AS-ONHP-2021/2, measuring 2,445.30 square km, is spread across the districts of Barpeta, Nalbari, Baksa and Kamrup (Pathsala block) whereas the AS-ONHP-2021/3 block, measuring 1,840.87 square km, is spread across the Udalguri, Kamrup and Darrang districts of Assam (Mangaldai block).