गोविंद चोमाल🔥

In today’s turbulent geopolitics, it is critically important for every large nation to secure energy independence. India is vulnerable because we import 90% of our oil and gas. We are surrounded by sea on three sides which can be blockaded in hostile times. There is no option but to raise our domestic production. We are the world’s fastest growing market for oil and gas. And our demand will keep growing for another 20 years at least. Fortunately, we are blessed with tremendous resources, 300 billion barrels equivalent. More than 30 times Guyana’s potential. We also have amazing entrepreneurs - our businessmen, youngsters and startups. Across the world, in America, Middle East and Europe, 10% of experts in this industry are Indians. So, we have talent. What we need to do is exploration. That is the core of this business. Two decades ago, the US was dependent on hydrocarbon imports and vulnerable. They changed it by opening up exploration to entrepreneurs and making it lucrative for them. Even backyards of homes and farms were explored. Everyone benefited. I have been in this business for the last 15 years and I can say with confidence that we can produce at half the cost of imports. At the same time, we have contributed $40 billion dollars to the exchequer. Over the years, Cairn has produced 1.3 billion barrels. This sector is among a few that has no government protection or incentive like PLI. To unlock India’s full potential, we need more exploration. Today, there are hardly 200 active licences in India when there should be 2,000. The industry and potential investors fear processes, notices, court cases and taking away the licenses. Even one court case or notice in the public domain catches like fire in the world. I am reminded of what happened in the Ghana bird sanctuary in Bharatpur which, once upon a time, used to get birds from all over the world, some flying 5,000 miles. It would have been the world’s finest, until 10 or 15 years ago, a hunter shot a couple of birds. The other birds stopped coming. It is taking years to recreate a favourable environment. The world doesn’t want India to produce. It only wants India to be a market. But only domestic production creates jobs, which is proven in other parts of the world. We must push back. We must fight to be self-sufficient. After all, this is a country which used to be import dependent on food. And then became self-sufficient. It all happened because the government created a movement to make the country self-sufficient. Today, the world is rapidly securing its own energy and mineral resources. India must also move quickly to make full use of what lies below the ground. The Government has been encouraging growth, collaboration and investment. At Vedanta, our goal is to increase our production five times. For India, production must grow ten times to meet future needs. This will support economic growth and the vision of Viksit Bharat. My vision is to see thousands of drilling rigs operating across the country. Even startups and small entrepreneurs can participate with an investment of around ₹5 crore through leasing of rigs. What we need most is stable and supportive environment. This is the right time to shift from heavy regulation to facilitation for exploration and production so the nation can move towards energy independence. We have a long journey ahead but our potential is extraordinary.