India is in urgent need of significant hydrocarbon discoveries to fulfill its future energy requirements, according to Pankaj Jain, Secretary of the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry. Speaking at the 15th Biennial International Conference of the Society of Petroleum Geophysicists, Jain emphasized the necessity for bold and time-bound exploration strategies that align with the National Deepwater Mission to achieve energy self-reliance.
“One day, we will face a scenario where alternative forms of energy will increasingly be more relevant for meeting incremental demand than fossil fuels,” Jain stated, highlighting the shifting energy landscape. He stressed that immediate attention should be given to securing major hydrocarbon discoveries through accelerated exploration initiatives.
During the conference, ONGC Chairman Arun Kumar Singh remarked on the importance of technological advances in seismic imaging and AI-driven interpretation for upcoming discoveries. The conference, entitled “Rock to Cloud: Geo-Exploration Empowering Energy Evolution,” gathered professionals from the geoscience community, as well as representatives from renowned international organizations, including the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (US), the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (Netherlands), and the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
Dr. Ranjit Rath, CMD of Oil India, characterized India as “one of the most promising destinations for exploration,” referencing progressive reforms such as the Open Acreage Licensing Policy and the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy. He urged geoscientists to be “restless in pursuit of exploration,” focusing particularly on frontier basins and ultra-deepwater domains.
The article was published on October 27, 2025.
