BHUBANESWAR: Union minister of state for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said the Centre will invest `10,000 crore in LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminal project in the state.
Inaugurating the office of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) here, Pradhan said efforts are on by ONGC in collaboration with his ministry and some private stakeholders to make Odisha a petro-hydrocarbon rich state by 2022 for which Rs one lakh crore has been earmarked for investment to produce petroleum and hydrocarbon.
ONGC is making a new beginning in field of exploration of energy resources in the new frontiers of a resurgent State of Odisha.
As per preliminary estimates, the State has significant hydrocarbon resources, especially gas reserves in the offshore area. ONGC will soon go for onshore 2D and 3D seismic survey which will establish the potential of resources in mainland Odisha.
"There are some technical challenges. But I have a strong feeling that the next round of exploration will be a success," Pradhan said.
ONGC which has been striving for the nation's energy security added another chapter to its glorious journey by taking new steps in the state, he said.
The national PSU has been engaged in exploration in Mahanadi offshore area - both shallow and deep water area in the coast of the State since the inception of NELP (New Exploration Licensing Policy) regime in 1999. So far it has drilled 26 wells in the deep-water and 3 wells in the shallow water in the Mahanadi offshore area.
ONGC is in the process of identifying the technology which will enable exploiting the established reserve economically. The office set-up in the city has been established aiming to further boost the exploratory activities in the Mahanadi offshore area, Pradhan said.
Referring to the revival of Talcher Fertilizer plant, Pradhan said his ministry is working with Coal India Limited (CIL) and Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL), Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) and Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd (FCIL) to set up an integrated coal gasification-cum-fertilizer and ammonium nitrate complex at Talcher soon.
The Union Minister called upon the students pursuing Geology and Geophysics in the state universities to come forward and involve themselves in data sourcing and gathering scientific methods towards exploration and production of oil and gas in the state.