**Summary:**
The Government of India, through the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, is launching the Special Coal Bed Methane (CBM) Bid Round 2025, offering investment opportunities in the unconventional hydrocarbon segment. As of April 15, 2025, India has 15 active CBM blocks with a total area of 7,009 sq. km, representing an investment of USD 2.66 billion. These blocks have a cumulative production of 7.19 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) at a rate of 2.2 Million Metric Standard Cubic Meters per Day (MMSCMD), with 1,194 wells drilled by 11 contractors.
The Special CBM Bid Round 2025 offers 3 blocks: two in West Bengal (Basin Category III) with a total area of 330 sq. km and a prognosticated CBM resource of 10 BCM, and one in Gujarat (Basin Category I) with an area of 189 sq. km and a prognosticated CBM resource of 24 BCM.
Key features of this bid round include: no prior experience in the oil and gas sector required, no revenue sharing for Category II and III basins until windfall gains, concessions in royalty rates for early production, marketing and pricing freedom for gas produced, availability of gas grid infrastructure, 100% participation for foreign companies in Joint Ventures (JVs), exploration allowed during the entire contract period, and a single license for conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon.
For further information and facilitation, interested parties can visit the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas website (https://mopng.gov.in/en) or contact them through the provided link (https://mopng.gov.in/en/page39). Additional details are also available on the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons website (https://www.dghindia.gov.in) with contact information at (https://www.dghindia.gov.in/contactenglish.php). Geological data can be accessed through the National Data Repository website (https://www.ndrdgh.gov.in) or by email at indr@dghindia.gov.in.
Key Entities Referenced
Special CBM Bid Round 2025: A bidding round for Coal Bed Methane (CBM) blocks in India, launched in 2025.
West Bengal: A state in India where CBM blocks are on offer in Special CBM Bid Round 2025.
Jharkhand: A state in India with active CBM blocks.
Chhattisgarh: A state in India with active CBM blocks.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India with active CBM blocks.
Gujarat: A state in India where CBM blocks are on offer in Special CBM Bid Round 2025.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas: The Indian government ministry responsible for petroleum and natural gas matters, providing facilitation for the CBM bid round.
Directorate General of Hydrocarbons: An Indian regulatory body related to hydrocarbons, providing facilitation for the CBM bid round.
LAUNCH OF SPECIAL CBM
BID ROUND 2025
April 15, 2025
New DelhiCBM BLOCKS PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW
15 Active CBM Blocks
6 Exploration 2 Development 6 Production 1 under PEL
States: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh
Total area : Investment :
7,009 sq. km USD 2.66 billion
Production rate: Cum. Production :
2.2 MMSCMD 7.19 BCM
Contractors - 11 Wells Drilled: 1,194
Snapshot of Special CBM Bid Rounds
Special CBM Bid Round 2021 Special CBM Bid Round 2022
Total blocks & area : Total blocks & area :
4 Blocks, 3,862 sq. km area 3 Blocks, 717 sq. km area
Investment Commitment : Investment Commitment :
USD 9.24 million USD 7.4 million
Wells planned : Wells planned :
20 Core Wells & 5 Test Wells 24 Core Wells & 4 Test Wells
New Entrants :BLOCKS ON OFFER IN SPECIAL CBM BID
ROUND 2025
Investment Opportunity in Unconventional segmentBLOCKS ON OFFER IN SPECIAL CBM BID
ROUND 2025
2 Blocks on offer
in West Bengal
with total area of
330 sq. km
Basin Category -
III
Prognosticated
CBM Resource-
10 BCM
1 Block on offer
in Gujarat with
total area of
189 sq. km
Basin Category -
I
Prognosticated
CBM Resource-
24 BCMSALIENT FEATURES OF SPECIAL CBM
BID ROUND 2025
Prior experience in Oil and Gas Sector NOT
01
mandatory
No revenue sharing for Category II and Category
02
III basins until windfall gain
Concessions in Royalty rates for early
03
production
04
Marketing and Pricing Freedom for Gas produced
05
Availability of Gas Grid Infrastructure
06
100% participation for foreign companies/ JVs
07
Exploration allowed during entire contract period
Single License for Conventional &
08
Unconventional HydrocarbonKEY TOUCHPOINT FOR FACILITATION
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Website: https://mopng.gov.in/en
Contact us: https://mopng.gov.in/en/page/39
Directorate General of Hydrocarbons
Website: https://www.dghindia.gov.in/
Contact us:
https://www.dghindia.gov.in/contact_english.php
National Data Repository
Website: https://www.ndrdgh.gov.in/NDR/
Email: indr@dghindia.gov.in