ITANAGAR, Feb 18: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday handed over the petroleum exploration licences (PEL) to mining company Vedanta Limited for exploration of hydrocarbon resources in three exploration blocks in Arunachal.
The three blocks are spread across a total of 74.4 sq km area in Changlang, Tirap and West Siang districts.
The exploration in these blocks will comprise two phases – the initial exploration phase and the subsequent exploration phase. The exploration period of each phase is of three years, with the provision for an additional one-year extension.
“The granting of the licences for the aforementioned blocks would lead to increase in the exploration activities in the hydrocarbon sector in Arunachal. In course of time, the exploration activities will reveal the potential hydrocarbon reservoir of the state, which in turn would benefit the state in terms of revenue, employment and infrastructure development through CSR activities,” the CM’s PR cell stated in a release.
