Fact Check: India opened up 1,000,000 square kilometers of sedimentary basin for exploration under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), which is part of a shift in policy since 2016.

Fact Check: "India opened up 1,000,000 square kilometers of sedimentary basin for exploration under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), which is part of a shift in policy since 2016."

What We Know

The claim states that India has opened up 1,000,000 square kilometers of sedimentary basin for exploration under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) and that this is part of a policy shift since 2016. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the government has indeed made significant areas of offshore acreage available for exploration, which were previously classified as 'No-Go' areas. The minister mentioned that over 1 million square kilometers has been made available for exploration activities.

Since the introduction of the Hydrocarbon Exploration & Licensing Policy (HELP) in March 2016, there have been several reforms aimed at enhancing exploration and production (E&P) activities in India. The OALP is a key component of these reforms, allowing for more transparent and streamlined procedures in the bidding process for exploration blocks.

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is strong, as it comes directly from official government sources. The Press Information Bureau confirms that the OALP has led to the opening of vast areas for exploration, and the minister's statements at the recent signing ceremony for OALP Bid Round-VIII and the launch of OALP-IX corroborate the claim of 1,000,000 square kilometers being made available.

Moreover, the ongoing initiatives under the OALP have resulted in a significant increase in the area under exploration, with estimates suggesting that by the end of 2024, around 560,000 square kilometers will be actively explored due to the upcoming OALP rounds. This indicates a substantial shift in policy focus since 2016, aligning with the government's goal of reducing import dependency on oil and gas.

The sources used in this analysis are credible, as they originate from the Indian government and its official communications. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is a reliable authority on this matter, and the information presented is consistent across multiple reports.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that India has opened up 1,000,000 square kilometers of sedimentary basin for exploration under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy is accurate. The evidence from credible government sources supports the assertion that this is part of a broader policy shift initiated in 2016 to enhance exploration activities in the country.

Sources

1. Open Acreage Licensing Policy Bid Round-IX launched
2. National Portal of India
3. Press Release: Press Information Bureau
4. India - The World Factbook
5. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas launches Open ...
6. Profile| National Portal of India
7. OALP X Blocks overview
8. India at a Glance - National Portal of India