India Extends Largest Oil & Gas Auction Deadline to Dec 2025

The Indian government has extended the deadline for the latest oil and gas block auction, the OALP-X licensing round, to December 31, 2025. Originally set to end in July, it was first moved to October and now to December. OALP-X offers the largest acreage yet, aiming to boost national production.

The Indian government has once again extended the deadline for submitting bids in the latest oil and gas block auction, known as the OALP-X licensing round. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) announced that the new deadline is December 31, 2025. This decision allows prospective investors additional time to participate in the country's largest acreage offering to date.

Originally scheduled to close in July, the deadline was first pushed to the end of October. The OALP-X round, launched during India Energy Week 2025 in New Delhi, includes 25 blocks covering around 191,986 square kilometers. The offering spans a variety of onshore and offshore blocks across 13 sedimentary basins, including the potential-rich Andaman basin.

OALP-X features significant policy benefits under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy, such as reduced royalties and marketing freedoms. As India seeks to bolster its domestic oil and gas production, this latest round offers promising opportunities for both state-owned and private companies, aiming to address the country's soaring import bill.