Andhra Pradesh: India's Next Big Oil and Gas Frontier

Andhra Pradesh is rapidly positioning itself as a major center for oil and gas exploration, driven by significant investments in both onshore and offshore projects—particularly in the resource-rich Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin.

Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suresh Gopi, informed the Rajya Sabha that the state has attracted USD 266.57 million in onshore investments and a substantial USD 18.98 billion in offshore ventures, facilitated through partnerships with private and foreign investors.

Among the flagship developments, the KG-DWN-98/2 offshore project is nearing completion and is expected to yield 14 million tonnes of oil and 30.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas.

Other key exploration fields include Kavitam, Dangeru, Kaza, Bhimanapalli, Palakollu, and Surearaopeta, as well as offshore blocks under the KG-SDSF series such as Chandrika, Ravva, GS-21, G3, GS-49, and YS-6.

Minister Gopi highlighted that recent government reforms—such as the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), marketing and pricing freedom for natural gas, and incentives for early monetisation—have boosted investor confidence and accelerated energy sector growth, cementing Andhra Pradesh’s role as a strategic energy hub for India.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.