New Delhi: In a landmark move to bolster India’s offshore energy ambitions, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has signed a Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) with Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and BP Exploration (Alpha) Ltd for the GS-OSHP-2022/2 block. This agreement, inked on 28 July 2025, signals the operational commencement of the block awarded under the ninth bid round of the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP-IX).
Alliance to Strengthen India’s Energy Security
The signing of this tripartite JOA marks a critical milestone in upstream hydrocarbon collaboration, uniting three energy majors to explore and develop offshore resources. The move reflects a shared commitment toward enhancing India’s energy self-reliance and accelerating exploration efforts in key sedimentary basins.
ONGC described the agreement as a “significant stride” in building strategic partnerships that support national energy goals. It is expected to unlock considerable exploration potential in the assigned block.
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Top Leadership Marks the Occasion
The JOA signing ceremony was attended by key representatives from all three consortium partners. ONGC was represented by Director (Strategy & Corporate Affairs) Mr. Arunagshu Roy and Director (Exploration) Mr. O.P. Sinha. BP Exploration (Alpha) Ltd was represented by Director (Finance) Mr. Manoj Kumar, while Reliance Industries Ltd was represented by Senior Vice President Mr. Avinash Kumar Pathak.
The leadership presence underlined the importance of this collaboration in ensuring synergy and operational efficiency going forward.
About ONGC
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is India’s largest crude oil and natural gas company, contributing around 71% to Indian domestic production. A Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, ONGC is spearheading exploration and production projects both in India and abroad to secure the country’s energy future.
