Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri with Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during the signing of a tripartite MoU on ‘Mineral Oil Operations in the Assam-Nagaland Boundary Areas’ in New Delhi on June 11. (Photo Courtesy: @Neiphiu_Rio/X)
New Delhi, June 11 (MExN): In a significant step towards unlocking hydrocarbon resources in the disputed Assam-Nagaland border areas, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on "Mineral Oil Operations in the Assam-Nagaland Boundary Areas" was signed on Thursday between the Government of India and the Governments of Assam and Nagaland.
The agreement was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The MoU is aimed at undertaking oil and mineral explorations in the disputed area belt (DAB) along the Assam-Nagaland border.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the signing as a "historic moment" and congratulated the Nagaland Government on the commencement of oil exploration activities across the State, including operations in six identified fields. He stated that the agreement between the Centre, Assam and Nagaland would pave the way for the exploration of oil, natural gas and mineral resources across the Northeast.
Shah noted that the region's natural wealth could not be fully utilised in the past because of law-and-order challenges and unresolved disputes. With the agreement now in place, he said, existing exploitation capacities of around 1,000-1,500 barrels could increase nearly tenfold.
Updating about the MoU on X, he further maintained that harnessing the oil and natural gas reserves of Nagaland would help reduce India's dependence on foreign energy sources while creating what he termed an "economic highway" for the development of both Assam and Nagaland.
Calling the agreement an example of cooperative federalism, Shah said the MoU had removed one of the major obstacles to the vision of a developed Northeast and would be remembered as a milestone in advancing the region's growth under a "Nation First" approach.
As per the PTI news agency, he further maintained that in one field alone, there are possibilities of recovery of more than Rs 15,000 crore.
“If we extract the oil deposits spread across Nagaland, we would be able to reduce dependence on foreign countries for our oil needs,” he added.
As per the report, noting that shrinking of areas covered under AFSPA is an indicator of peace, he further expressed confident that “barring one or two states, we will withdraw AFSPA from the entire Northeast next year.
Nagaland CM Rio termed the signing a "historic day" and said the agreement would open a new chapter for the State by enhancing economic activity, improving resource management and strengthening inter-state cooperation through dialogue and mutual respect.
In a post on X, Rio said the MoU would help ensure that the natural wealth of the land translates into tangible developmental benefits for the people while creating opportunities in the oil and gas sector.
He further expressed hope that the agreement would usher in "a new era of brotherhood, collaboration and shared prosperity" between Nagaland and Assam and be implemented in both letter and spirit.
Assam Chief Minister said the long-standing boundary issue between the two States had prevented the utilisation of valuable natural resources in the area for many years. With the signing of the MoU, he said, a major bottleneck had been removed.
According to Sarma, the agreement would unlock more than 1,000 square kilometres of area along the Assam-Nagaland border believed to hold significant energy and mineral reserves for exploration and production. He described the development as a major step towards strengthening India's energy security and achieving greater energy self-sufficiency, driven by the Northeast.
Sarma further maintained that the agreement reflected the Centre's commitment to resolving long-standing and complex issues that hinder development and marked the beginning of a new era for the Northeast region.
The MoU comes amid renewed efforts by the Centre and the two States to strengthen cooperation in the management of shared natural resources and promote economic development in the region.
MoU At a Glance
WHAT: Tripartite MoU- ‘Mineral Oil Operations in the Assam-Nagaland Boundary Areas’
WHO: Signed between Government of India, Government of Assam, & Government of Nagaland
WHEN: Signed in New Delhi on June 11 in presence of Union HM Amit Shah & Union Min for Petroleum Hardeep Singh Puri June 11
KEY DETAILS
• Covers over 1,000 sq km of land along the Assam-Nagaland boundary
• Includes exploration activities in six identified fields in Nagaland
• Increase oil extraction capacity of 1000-1500 barrels by 10 times
• Removes major bottleneck in border disputes
