Aizawl: Mizoram government is holding discussions with IOCL to set up an oil depot in the state and planning to resume natural gas exploration, officials said Friday.
Several locations have been explored for setting up the depot, but the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd is yet to take a final decision, they said.
The state government also plans to resume oil and natural gas exploration activities, particularly in the Meidum area in northern Mizoram’s Kolasib district, where an assessment is underway to determine whether commercially viable quantities of natural gas can be extracted, the officials said.
Exploratory drilling has been proposed at Hortoki near Meidum, and several preparatory steps have already been completed, the officials said.
A bridge over the Chhimluang river, connecting Meidum with Hortoki, was completed by the state public works department in 2025, facilitating access to the proposed drilling site, they said.
The ONGC has sought an extension of the validity of the exploration block from the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to enable well drilling, the officials said.
To expedite the process, Chief Minister Lalduhoma has already written a letter to the central government, urging it to allow the drilling work to commence at the earliest, they said.
