The Andaman Sea has officially joined India’s energy map with the confirmation of natural gas reserves in its basin, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on Friday. Describing the discovery as an “ocean of energy opportunities,” he said the development marks a milestone in India’s exploration journey.
According to the minister, natural gas was encountered at the Sri Vijayapuram-2 well, located about 17 km from the Andaman shoreline, in waters 295 metres deep and drilled to a target depth of 2,650 metres. “Initial production testing at depths between 2,212–2,250 metres established the presence of natural gas with intermittent flaring. Gas samples tested at Kakinada were found to be 87 per cent methane,” Puri revealed.
While the commercial viability of the find will be assessed in the coming months, the confirmation of hydrocarbons validates long-held geological assumptions that the Andaman basin holds substantial natural gas reserves. The basin forms part of a wider belt that has already seen successful discoveries stretching from Myanmar in the north to Indonesia in the south.
The announcement aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Samudra Manthan-styled National Deep Water Exploration Mission, unveiled during his Independence Day address. The mission, designed to be executed in “mission mode,” aims to accelerate offshore drilling in collaboration with international deepwater experts and enhance India’s self-reliance in the energy sector.
This discovery not only strengthens India’s energy ambitions but also opens up new strategic opportunities for the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The archipelago, already at the heart of regional trade and defence discourse, may now become a key player in India’s energy security strategy. Similar transformative projects in the islands, such as those covered in The Wave Andaman’s earlier report on regional infrastructure, highlight the government’s push to position the islands as a strategic frontier.
Energy experts believe that if the reserves are proven commercially viable, the discovery could bring economic opportunities to the region, much like the ongoing development initiatives spotlighted previously. Moreover, the find could accelerate India’s broader goals of reducing import dependency while strengthening renewable and non-renewable energy capacity in line with national exploration and sustainability drives.
For the Andaman basin, long considered promising yet underexplored, the confirmation of hydrocarbons is a historic first step. As assessments continue, the find could pave the way for deeper engagement with global technology providers and shape the islands’ role in India’s energy future.
