Is ONGC’s gas production in the Arabian Sea a game changer for India’s energy landscape? Yes, it is. ONGC has commenced gas production from its Daman Upside Development Project on March 30, 2026.
Gas is now flowing from Platform B-12-24P and has been sent to the Hazira Plant. This project, located about 180 kilometers northwest of Mumbai, is expected to produce 21.5 billion cubic metres (BCM) of natural gas over its lifecycle.
In the first 10 months of FY26, India imported 29.185 BCM of natural gas. If the Daman asset reaches its projected output, it would offset approximately 73.66% of these imports. Moreover, the peak output could account for roughly 61.38% of India’s annual gas imports for FY26.
ONGC has invested approximately $1 billion in developing the Daman Upside Development Project. This investment is crucial as it aims to reduce India’s dependence on natural gas imports amid global energy market disruptions.
“This [B-12-24P] platform has been successfully commissioned and gas sent to Hazira Plant,” an ONGC spokesperson stated. The company plans to ramp up production from all wells in a phased manner.
As the Daman project progresses, it could significantly alter India’s energy dynamics, enhancing self-sufficiency in natural gas production.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact timeline for reaching peak production levels, but the implications of this project are already being felt across the energy sector.
