The Lok Sabha today passed the Oilfield (Regulatory and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024, marking a significant step towards modernising India's oil and gas sector. The Bill, which was earlier cleared by the Rajya Sabha on 3rd December 2024, aims to streamline regulations, enhance investor confidence, and increase domestic hydrocarbon production.

This landmark reform aligns with India’s long-term vision of energy availability, accessibility, affordability, and security, contributing to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Transforming India’s Oil and Gas Sector Over the past decade, the Government has introduced groundbreaking reforms to boost exploration and production (E&P) activities. These include:

Transitioning from a production-sharing model to a revenue-sharing regime for contract awards. Simplifying regulatory processes and reducing bureaucratic hurdles. Opening previously restricted No-Go areas for new exploration. Deregulating crude oil and granting pricing and marketing freedom for natural gas. As a result of these reforms, 76% of India’s active exploration acreage today has been awarded since 2014, highlighting the Government’s commitment to accelerating domestic energy production.

A More Business-Friendly and Transparent Framework Introducing the historic amendment, Hon’ble Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, emphasised that the previous regulatory system—focused on licensing, control, and royalty collection—needed a modernised approach to promote Ease of Doing Business.

Key highlights of the Bill include:

Simplification of permit processes: The Bill eliminates the outdated practice of treating mining and petroleum operations under the same regulatory umbrella. Single Permit System: The introduction of a unified petroleum lease will replace the current multi-license requirement, reducing red tape and making operations more efficient. Adoption of advanced energy technologies: The new framework will support next-generation technologies such as Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), green hydrogen production, and integrated energy projects. Resource sharing to aid small operators: To monetise smaller discoveries, the Bill allows infrastructure sharing between different operators, ensuring that isolated oilfields can be developed cost-effectively. Investor-friendly legal framework: By offering longer and more stable lease tenures, the Bill addresses one of the biggest concerns of global oil companies seeking to invest in India. Dispute Resolution and Compliance Strengthening To further enhance investor confidence, the Bill introduces efficient and cost-effective alternate dispute resolution mechanisms, ensuring timely and fair resolution of contractual disputes.

To enforce compliance, the penalties for infractions have been significantly increased:

Fines of Rs 2.5 million for violations. Additional fines of Rs1 million per day for continued non-compliance. Creation of a dedicated adjudication authority and appellate mechanism for penalties, ensuring quicker dispute settlements.