India's Hydrocarbon Outlook – 2022-2023

171 DGH: 3 DECADES OF UNLOCKING INDIA'S HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL environment and local communities, but these impacts can be mitigated through appropriate measures. B2 projects do not require a detailed EIA report. The prior EC process for Category ‘B2’ projects/ activities will comprise: Stage-1 : Appraisal Stage-2 : Grant or Rejection of Prior EC March 2020: Permission for Use of Secondary Data EIA notification is applicable up to 12 NM and MoEF&CC has taken a view that projects located in offshore areas beyond 12 NM are not covered under EC. This has enabled the upstream E&P oil and gas companies to use secondary data as the baseline data beyond 12 NM. 8.1.3 Year 2021 March 2021: Streamlining EDS MoEF&CC vide OM dated 15th march 2021, attempted to streamline the process of granting Environment Clearances with regard to Essential Details Sought (EDS) by placing a ceiling of 30 days after which the MoEF&CC shall exclude the proposal from the pendency list. This issue had been pursued by DGH since long and has given a respite in terms of breaking the deadlock between the E&P Operators and the Ministry in terms of movement of the proposal. May 2021: Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment Studies on Petroleum Exploration and Developmental Projects in Offshore Areas beyond 12 Nautical Miles. In a bid to increase India’s hydrocarbon exploration and production (E&P) footprint to address the rising energy demand, areas are being considered for auctioning/bidding purposes. The MoEF&CC has issued guidelines for operating within 12 NM in offshore areas. DGH endeavoured to formulate guidelines and the best practices to operate in the areas beyond 12 NM in offshore areas, by utilizing the services of CSIR-NIO. NIO has prepared a ready reckoner/handbook on the same to facilitate the E&P operators in the entire hydrocarbon block cycle of exploration, drilling, development, production and site restoration. GoI categorizes onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration activities as category B2 for green clearance. As exploration activities in hydrocarbon sector have been moved from Category A to Category B2, will now require environmental clearance only from the States concerned and will not require preparation of an EIA report or conduct of Public Hearing. However, Development or Production, both on offshore /onshore fields as hydrocarbon blocks, will continue to merit assessment as “category A”. III. Ministry of Defence and Department of Space have agreed to grant additional area for exploration, IV. Notification of Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) has already been issued around 16 protected areas. 8.1.2 Year 2020 January 2020: Exemption of exploratory drilling from purview of EIA Notification, 2006: MoEF&CC vide notification dated 16th January, 2020 categorized onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration activities as B2 category for seeking priority Environment Clearance (EC), i.e., Exploration Surveys (not involving drilling operations). This has been an achievement from upstream O&G industry perspective as B2 projects are exempted for conducting EIA studies and also from holding Public Hearings. Further, Scoping stage (ToR) is not required for B2 projects. B2 projects are typically those that are expected to have moderate adverse impacts on the