Bhubaneswar, Sept. 23 (UDN): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has described ONGC’s offshore natural gas discovery in the Mahanadi Basin as a landmark development that could strengthen the state’s energy sector and contribute to India’s push for greater energy self-reliance.
Reacting to the discovery on social media, the Chief Minister said the Mahanadi, long regarded as Odisha’s lifeline, is now poised to play a significant role in the country’s energy future through resources beneath its offshore basin.
CM Hails Discovery As Step Towards Energy Self-Reliance
In a post on X, Majhi said the offshore gas find represents an important step towards unlocking Odisha’s energy potential and supporting India’s goal of becoming more self-reliant in the energy sector.
He described the discovery as a new chapter in the Mahanadi’s contribution to the state, saying that the river, which has sustained Odisha for centuries, now holds the potential to power future growth through offshore resources.
Discovery Made Off Konark Coast
The natural gas discovery was made by the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on September 18 at the MN-DW18-1-H-D well (MDW-28), located about 43 kilometres off the Konark coast.
The well forms part of Samudra Manthan, ONGC’s deepwater exploration campaign launched on July 25 by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri.
Boost To Offshore Exploration
The discovery is expected to add momentum to offshore exploration efforts in the Mahanadi Basin, one of India’s key hydrocarbon-bearing regions along the eastern coast.
While further assessment will determine the commercial potential of the find, the development has been viewed as an encouraging outcome for ongoing exploration activities in Odisha’s offshore waters.
