Jaipur
India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary, Pankaj Jain, on Sunday called for bold and time-bound exploration strategies under the National Deepwater Mission to accelerate India’s energy self-reliance. Speaking at the 15th Biennial International Conference and Exposition of SPG-India 2025, themed “Rock to Cloud: Exploration Empowering Energy Evolution,” he urged stakeholders to combine scientific rigor with commercial vision, stressing that incremental progress is no longer sufficient.
Secretary Jain highlighted that future energy demand will increasingly rely on alternative energy sources, making large discoveries in deepwater crucial. He underscored the importance of sustainable ocean resource development under the Deep Ocean Mission launched in 2021, noting that India cannot afford to delay ambitious exploration efforts.
The conference at Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC) saw key participation from ONGC CEO Arun Kumar Singh, CMD Oil India Dr. Ranjit Rath, and other senior officials. Singh reaffirmed ONGC’s commitment to deepwater exploration, emphasizing the role of seismic imaging, AI-driven interpretation, and data analytics. Dr. Rath highlighted India’s attractiveness for exploration through reforms such as OALP, HELP, and Offshore Bidding Rounds, urging geoscientists to intensify efforts in frontier and ultra-deepwater basins.
O.P. Sinha, Director (Exploration), ONGC, emphasized the “Rock to Cloud” theme as indicative of India’s shift to technology-driven exploration and collaboration between academia, industry, and government. The three-day SPG 2025 exposition showcases cutting-edge technologies and brings together global experts to discuss oil, gas, and sustainable energy solutions, underlining India’s mission for energy independence.