By News Desk 
India currently imports between 85% to 88% of its crude oil from foreign countries, making it the third-largest importer of crude oil in the world, after the United States and China. In such a scenario, the discovery of a significant domestic oil reserve could dramatically shift the country’s energy landscape.
In a recent interview with The New Indian, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, made a bold statement. He revealed that India is on the brink of discovering a transformational oil reserve in the Andaman Sea, comparing its potential to the massive oil find in Guyana, which has positioned itself as the 17th largest holder of oil and gas reserves globally, with approximately 11.6 billion barrels in reserves.
If India successfully uncovers a reserve of similar scale, it could reduce the nation’s overwhelming dependence on oil imports and give a massive boost to energy self-sufficiency.
A Discovery That Could Reshape India’s Economy
Currently, India’s known crude oil reserves are spread across regions like Assam, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Mumbai High, and the Krishna-Godavari Basin. In addition, strategic petroleum reserves are located in Visakhapatnam, Mangalore, and Padur. New sites have been proposed in Odisha and Rajasthan, while exploration in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is ongoing, led by state-run firms like ONGC and Oil India Limited.
If significant oil reserves are found in the Andaman region, it could prove to be a monumental breakthrough for the Indian economy, helping the country cut back on its massive import bill and gain more control over its energy security.
India Could Become a $20 Trillion Economy
Minister Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized the enormous economic potential of this discovery. “It’s only a matter of time before we strike a major find in the Andaman Sea,” he said. “If the scale of discovery is anything close to what was found in Guyana, India could leap from being a $3.7 trillion economy to a $20 trillion economy.”
At present, India imports most of its crude oil from countries like Russia, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. However, future production from the Krishna-Godavari Basin and a potential Andaman oil reserve could substantially reduce reliance on external sources.
The Road Ahead
While exploration is still ongoing, the mere possibility of uncovering a vast oil reserve in Indian waters is a beacon of hope for the country’s energy future. Such a discovery wouldn’t just be about oil — it would signify a major step toward economic sovereignty, energy independence, and long-term national growth.
If India strikes oil in the Andaman Sea, it may not only transform its energy sector but also alter its global economic standing.