This document summarizes the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3169, addressed on August 7, 2025, regarding the engagement of private companies in the production of petroleum products in India. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas clarifies that petroleum products are derived from refining crude oil. India has 22 refineries, with 3 in the private sector, 18 in the public sector, and 1 in a joint venture.
According to data from the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), over 15 private companies are involved in Exploration and Production (E&P) activities nationwide. These companies are governed primarily by the Oilfields Regulation and Development Act, 1948, and the Petroleum Natural Gas Rules, 1959 (as amended), alongside other statutory clearances, including environmental and forest clearances.
All companies in the petroleum sector, including private entities, must comply with the rules, regulations, and requirements of the Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) standards to ensure worker safety and wellbeing. The OISD conducts audits to assess the effectiveness of safety practices.
Regarding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), companies are mandated to undertake CSR activities as per the Companies Act, 2013. CSR data filed by companies in the MCA21 registry is accessible on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' CSR data portal at www.csr.gov.in.
In Assam, four private companies are engaged in petroleum oil production: Vedanta Limited, Oilmax Energy Private Limited, Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Limited, and Assam Company India Limited, according to DGH data.
Key Entities Referenced
Suresh Gopi: Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH): An organization providing data and oversight for exploration and production of oil and gas.
Oilfields Regulation and Development Act, 1948: A key legislation governing the exploration and production of oil and gas.
Petroleum Natural Gas Rules, 1959: Rules governing the exploration and production of oil and gas.
Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD): An organization that sets standards and conducts audits to ensure safety in the petroleum sector.
Companies Act, 2013: Legislation that includes provisions for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.
Kamakhya Prasad Tasa: Member of Parliament who raised the question about private companies in petroleum production.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: The government ministry responsible for petroleum and natural gas affairs.
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-3169
TO BE ANSWERED ON 07 AUGUST, 2025
PRIVATE COMPANIES ENGAGED IN PRODUCTION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
3169. Shri Kamakhya Prasad Tasa:
पेट(cid:332)ोिलयमऔर (cid:366)ाकृ ितक गैस मं(cid:361)ी
Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that private companies are engaged in production of petroleum products in
the country;
(b)if so, the details thereof;
(c) the total number of private companies engaged in production of petroleum Oil in the country
along with the rules and norms they have to follow;
(d) whether the employees therein are covered under the life security system and if so, the details
thereof;
(e) whether the private companies are giving funds for social development as CSR and if so, the
details thereof; and
(f) the names of the private companies engaged in production of petroleum Oil in Assam?
ANSWER
पेट(cid:332)ोिलयमऔर (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) to (b) Petroleum products are obtained through the process of refining crude oil. There are 22
refineries in the country, of which 18 are in the public sector, 03 are in the private sector, and 01
in joint venture.
(c) As per the data available with Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), there are over 15
private companies which are engaged in Exploration and Production (E&P) across the country.
The rules and regulations governing authorization for the exploration and production of oil and
gas are primarily the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948 and the Petroleum &
Natural Gas Rules, 1959 as amended from time to time along with other statutory clearances
such as environmental clearance, forest clearance, etc.
Page 1 of 2(d) All companies, including those in private sector, operating in the petroleum sector are
required to adhere to the rules, regulations and requirements of Oil Industry Safety Directorate
(OISD) Standards to ensure the safety and well-being of the workers. To assess compliance,
OISD also conducts audits to review the effectiveness of safety practices.
(e) Companies undertake Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities under the provisions
of the Companies Act, 2013. Further, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has a CSR data portal
wherein all data related to CSR filed by companies in MCA21 registry is available at
www.csr.gov.in.
(f) As per the data available with DGH, four private companies viz. Vedanta Limited, Oilmax
Energy Private Limited, Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Limited, and Assam Company
India Limited are engaged in the production of petroleum oil in the State of Assam.
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