India's globetrotter
OVL has been spreading its international wings, a strategy that has so far yielded mixed results
Energy-hungry India, unblessed with the hydrocarbon riches of other developing economies and yet to see the fruits of a campaign to rejuvenate its own upstream, is looking further afield to secure its energy supplies. India imports more than 82% of the crude oil it needs—around 3.78m barrels a day, according to the International Energy Agency. Production is just under 0.9m b/d. So the imperative is plain. Undeterred by weak global oil prices, ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), the overseas investment arm of the government controlled Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), is leading the charge. This fiscal year, it will spend $150m in exploration, drilling more wells in Colombia, where it just made

Also in this section
17 July 2025
US downstream sector in key state feels the pain of high costs, an environmental squeeze and the effects of broader market trends
16 July 2025
Crude quality issues are an often understated risk to energy security, highlighted by problems at a key US refinery
15 July 2025
Government consultations on the windfall tax and the exploration licence ban are positive steps, but it is unclear how long it will take for them to yield tangible outcomes
15 July 2025
A brutally honest picture about the potential role of oil and gas in 2050 should prompt policymakers to not only reflect but also change course to meet vital energy needs