The government is taking steps to unlock the potential of shale gas reserves in India in order to bridge the ever rising demand for energy.
The country is dependent on import to meet over 70 percent of crude oil and this is expected to change if we successfully explore shale gas reserves. Following are some of the steps taken by the government in this direction.
The government has authorised the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) to identify prospective areas of shale gas exploration.
In order to suggest a methodology for shale gas development in the country, the government formed a multi-organisational team, comprising the DGH, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Oil India and GAIL India.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Energy, US, for assessing shale gas resources in India, for imparting training to Indian geo-scientists and engineers and seeking assistance in formulating a regulatory framework.
The Petroleum Ministry had also asked the US Geological Survey to identify reserves, transfer technology required to tap them, and finalise a policy for exploration. According to estimates, shale gas reserves in India may be larger than proven conventional gas deposits.
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