• Largest private player to win the blocks in OALP Round-IX
• With the addition of these 7 new OALP blocks, Cairns’s tally increases to 69 blocks, spread over an area of ~73,000 sq.km.
• Cairn, Vedanta holds 100% participatory interest in all OALP blocks

New Delhi, 15^th April, 2025: Cairn Oil & Gas, part of Vedanta Group and India’s largest private oil and gas producer, has acquired 7 new blocks in the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) Round IX auction. The contract signing ceremony of the newly acquired exploration blocks was officiated here today in the presence of Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon’ble Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas. 

The awarded new blocks comprise of 4 onshore and 3 shallow water blocks located in the hydrocarbon basins of Cambay, Saurashtra, and Mumbai. With these addition, Cairn’s portfolio now expands to 69 blocks covering over 73,000 sq.km. area across the country.

Cairn is the largest private player acquiring 7 out of the 28 blocks auctioned in OALP Round IX, strengthening its portfolio, in line with the vision to contribute 50% of domestic crude production in India.

Commenting on the development, Anil Agarwal, Chairman, Vedanta Group, said, “I congratulate Minister Hardeep Singh Puri for a successful auction. Today, India’s policies for the hydrocarbons sector are the most attractive in the world. They offer tremendous opportunity and returns on capital.”

Over the past years, Cairn has been actively participating in OALP auctions to secure more oil and gas blocks to expand its exploration and production capacity. The company acquired 36 blocks in OALP Round-I, 5 blocks in OALP Round–II, and 3 in OALP Round–III, in addition to its recent acquisition of 7 blocks in OALP–IX, underscoring its continued commitment to unlocking India’s hydrocarbon potential. The company holds 100% participatory interest in all OALP blocks. Additionally, Cairn holds legacy blocks awarded under NELP and pre-NELP regimes.  

The strategic addition of the 7 new blocks will enable Cairn to invest in increasing oil and gas exploration and production in the West Coast. Cairn already operates Lakshmi and Gauri oil and gas fields in the offshore areas of the Cambay basin of the CB/0S-2 block located in Suvali, 

Surat, and Jaya onshore field located in the Bharuch district of Gujarat. Cairn is also firming up the plans for an appraisal and development exploration campaign in the Ambe shallow water block (DSF) located in the Gulf of Cambay.

 About Cairn Oil & Gas

Cairn Oil & Gas, part of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest private oil and gas exploration and production company, contributing about a quarter of India’s domestic crude production and driving energy security for the country. With a world-class resource base, Cairn has an interest in 69 blocks in India spread over 73,000 square kilometres with gross 2P (Gross Proved Plus Probable Reserves) and 2C (Gross Contingent Reserves) of 1.4 bnboe. Cairn has producing assets across Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Assam, and has spearheaded several technological innovations with high-reward prospects, over the last 30 years of its operations. The company has a vision to contribute 50% of India’s domestic production, executing one of the largest exploration projects in the country across its diversified portfolio comprising conventional and unconventional projects such as Tight Oil & Gas, Deep & Shallow Water, ASP and CBM, reinstating the faith in the country’s hydrocarbon potential.

Cairn is committed to achieving Net Zero by 2030 by prioritising environmental resilience and is driving transformative social impact at scale. It is the first Indian company to sign the United Nations Environment Programme’s methane reporting and reduction initiative – OGMP 2.0.

About Vedanta Limited

Vedanta Limited (“Vedanta”), a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading natural resources, critical minerals, energy and technology companies spanning across India, South Africa, Namibia, Liberia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Taiwan and Japan with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, Nickel, Aluminium, Power & Glass Substrate and foraying into electronics and display glass manufacturing. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta’s strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment. Vedanta has put in place a comprehensive framework to be the ESG leader in the natural resources sector, is committed to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 or sooner and aims to spend $5 billion over the next 10 years to accelerate this transition. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. Anil Agarwal Foundation, the umbrella entity for Vedanta’s social initiatives, aims to spend Rs 5000 crore over the next five years on various social impact programs and its flagship project, Nand Ghar is setting up model anganwadis across India. Vedanta Ltd. ranked among top 5 in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024, and has been listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. The company has also been certified as a Great Place to Work and Kincentric Best Employer 2023. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.

For more information, please visit www.cairnindia.com / www.vedantalimited.com 

For any media queries, please contact: 

Ms. Shivanjali Singh
Chief Communication Officer
Cairn Oil & Gas, Vedanta Ltd
Shivanjali.Singh@cairnindia.com