**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 3047 in the Lok Sabha, scheduled to be answered on December 18th, 2025. The question concerns the number of coal beds functional for methane extraction in India, including state/UT-wise details and sector of operation (Public or Private). The Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Suresh Gopi, provides the answer.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Operational Coal-Bed Methane (CBM) Blocks:**
* There are fifteen (15) operational CBM blocks across the country.
* 6 are at the Production stage.
* 2 are at the Development stage.
* 7 are under Exploration.
* **Ownership of CBM Blocks:**
* Five (5) blocks are operated by Public Sector entities.
* Nine (9) blocks are operated by Private Sector companies.
* One (1) block is under joint operatorship between Public and Private Sector companies.
* **Annexure Details:**
* An annexure provides details of the CBM blocks, including their State/UT location, field status, and operator (Public Sector and Private Sector Companies).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas**
* **Impact:** Responsible for collecting and disseminating information regarding CBM blocks in the country.
* **Action Required:** Need to maintain and update details about the operational status and ownership of CBM blocks.
**Stakeholder: Public Sector Entities (e.g., ONGC)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for operating CBM blocks and contributing to methane extraction.
* **Action Required:** Continue operation and potentially explore new blocks, adhere to regulatory requirements.
**Stakeholder: Private Sector Companies (e.g., GEECL, RIL)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for operating CBM blocks and contributing to methane extraction.
* **Action Required:** Continue operation and potentially explore new blocks, adhere to regulatory requirements.
**Stakeholder: Joint Venture Operators (Public & Private)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for operating shared CBM blocks.
* **Action Required:** Coordination between entities, operate and potentially explore new blocks, adhere to regulatory requirements.
**Stakeholder: Parliament (Lok Sabha)**
* **Impact:** Receives information on the status of methane extraction from coal beds.
* **Action Required:** Review the information provided and potentially request further details or clarifications.
Key Entities Referenced
Coal-Bed Methane (CBM) blocks: Operational blocks across the country for extracting methane from coal beds; involves both public and private sector operators and different stages of production, development, and exploration.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: The primary government body responsible for the policy regarding extraction of methane from coal beds.
ONGC: A key Public Sector operator extracting methane from coal beds.
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3047
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TH DECEMBER 2025
COAL BEDS FUNCTIONAL FOR EXTRACTION OF METHANE
3047. Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan:
पेट(cid:332)ोिलयम और (cid:366)ाकृ ितक गैस मं(cid:361)ी
Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has details about the number of coal beds functional for
extraction of methane across the country, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise; and
(b) whether the Government has details about the number of methane-extracting coal beds
operated by the Public Sector and Private Sector, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
पेट(cid:332)ोिलयम और (cid:366)ाकृ ितक गैस मं(cid:361)ालय म(cid:336) रा(cid:475)मं(cid:361)ी
((cid:373)ी सुरेश गोपी)
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
(SHRI SURESH GOPI)
(a) & (b) At present, fifteen (15) operational Coal-Bed Methane (CBM) blocks across the
country include 6 at Production stage, 2 at Development stage and 7 under Exploration. Of
the fifteen (15) operational CBM blocks, five (05) are operated by Public Sector entities, nine
(09) by Private Sector companies, and one (01) block is under joint operatorship between
Public and Private Sector companies. The details of these CBM blocks - State/UT wise, field
status and operator (Public Sector and Private Sector Companies) wise is annexed.
****Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3047 asked by
Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan to be answered on 18.12.2025 regarding “Coal
Beds Functional For Extraction Of Methane”.
Public
Sr. Sector /
Block State Operator Field Status
No. Private
Sector
Raniganj West Public
1 ONGC Development
(North) Bengal Sector
Public
2 Jharia Jharkhand ONGC Production
Sector
BK-CBM- Public
3 Jharkhand ONGC Production
2001/1 Sector
BP-
Public
4 ONHP(CBM)- Jharkhand ONGC Exploration
Sector
2021/2
SR-
Public
5 ONHP(CBM)- Madhya Pradesh ONGC Exploration
Sector
2021/5
Raniganj Private
6 West Bengal GEECL Production
(South) Sector
RG(East)- Private
7 West Bengal EOGEPL Production
CBM-2001/1 Sector
SP(East)- Private
8 Madhya Pradesh RIL Development
CBM-2001/1 Sector
SP(West)- Private
9 Madhya Pradesh RIL Production
CBM-2001/1 Sector
SP-
Private Invenire
10 ONHP(CBM)- Madhya Pradesh Exploration
Sector Petrodyne
2021/1
SR-
Private
11 ONHP(CBM)- Chhattisgarh Vedanta Exploration
Sector
2021/6
SR- Transcontinental
Private
12 ONHP(CBM)- Madhya Pradesh Natural Exploration
Sector
2022/4 Res. Ltd.
SR- Transcontinental
Private
13 ONHP(CBM)- Madhya Pradesh Natural Exploration
Sector
2022/5 Res. Ltd.
SR- Oilmax
Private
14 ONHP(CBM)- Chhattisgarh Energy Pvt. Exploration
Sector
2022/6 Ltd.
Joint
NK-CBM- Operator ONGC
15 Jharkhand Production
2001/1 Ship (Public and PEPL
& Private)