In an exclusive Interview with , Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri laid out a bold vision for India’s energy independence, hinting that the country may be on the cusp of discovering a game-changing oil reserve in the Andaman Sea—comparable to the massive Guyana find by ExxonMobil. 

Speaking to Rohan Dua, Executive Editor, Puri highlighted key reforms in exploration policy, regulatory clarity through a new bill, and the growing seriousness of India’s energy sector in oil and gas exploration.

When I made this statement about the Krishna Godavari Basin, at that point in time, that was one place. Now we have found green shoots, oil, and several other places. And I think it’s only a matter of time before we find a big Guyana in the Andaman Sea. So that is ongoing.”

This bold prediction comes as India has ramped up exploratory drilling and significantly expanded its sedimentary basin coverage for private and public players.

Puri traced the policy shift to a post-2016 period of renewed intent and strategy: