NG TV NEWS | WEST BENGAL DESK
Ashoknagar Begins Commercial Crude Oil Production, Raising Hopes for Bengal’s Energy Future
KOLKATA | AUGUST 28, 2026
NEWS DESK: A new chapter has opened in West Bengal’s energy story as commercial crude oil production begins in Ashoknagar, North 24 Parganas. Oil is currently being extracted from a depth of around 2,396 metres using pumpjacks, with the initial target set at nearly 20,000 litres of crude oil per day.
The crude will be transported by specialised tankers to refineries for further processing. The development comes after nearly a decade of exploration and testing by ONGC, which had identified significant prospects for oil and natural gas beneath the region.
The journey towards commercial production has been long. In 2020, an exploratory well reportedly produced around 375 barrels of crude oil on a trial basis, strengthening hopes that Ashoknagar could emerge as a viable production centre.
The commercial operation was formally launched on Friday in the presence of ONGC Director (Exploration) O.P. Sinha and Ashoknagar MLA Sumay Hira.
According to ONGC, the Ashoknagar project currently has six wells—four associated with oil exploration and two with natural gas. A new well, located around 95 metres northeast of an earlier discovery, is now being used for commercial production.
Baigachi remains the primary operational centre, while exploration and drilling activities are also continuing in areas including Bhurkunda and Daulatpur. If further reserves are confirmed, production could expand through additional wells.
The project has already attracted an investment of around ₹1,000 crore, with further investment expected as exploration and infrastructure development continue.
ONGC officials have also highlighted the quality of the crude produced in the Baigachi area, with its reported API gravity of around 40–41, a measure indicating the density of crude oil.
The project could carry wider economic significance for the region. Improved roads, transportation and supporting infrastructure, along with potential employment opportunities, may provide a boost to the local economy.
At a time when India continues to depend significantly on imported oil and gas, increased domestic production could contribute to reducing import dependence and strengthening energy security.
However, land availability and infrastructure remain important challenges for expanding drilling operations. ONGC has indicated that cooperation from the state government is helping address some of these issues.
For Ashoknagar, the pumps now rising and falling against the Bengal landscape represent more than the start of another industrial project. They signal a new possibility—of energy, investment, employment and infrastructure reshaping the region’s economic future.
NG TV NEWS | WEST BENGAL DESK
