Nagaland seeks restart of petroleum exploration as Rio discusses plans with Hardeep Puri

Guwahati: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio met Union Petroleum minister Hardeep S Puri and discussed resumption of petroleum exploration and production in the State.

Rio stated in X, “Called on @HardeepSPuri Ji, Union Min. for @PetroleumMin, along with Dy. CMs @TRZeliang & @YanthungoPatton. We discussed key initiatives for the state's dev., resumption of petroleum exploration & production in the State. We appreciate the constructive discussions.”

In 2025, National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) had reiterated that it will oppose the move of the centre to explore petroleum in Nagaland.


Q.Tuccu, President of NSCN--IM had said, “Our sovereign wealth that I am speaking about are petroleum, coal, chromite , limestone, coal, nickel, cobalt etc. These are critical minerals that played an important role for industrial development, including defence. For quite a long period the government of India has been casting covetous eyes to explore our natural wealth, mainly petroleum but under no circumstances should we allow our mineral wealth to be exploited by our aggressor when they refused to respect the political rights of the Naga people. You must have been aware of the new attempt made by the government of India to intrude into our sovereign ownership rights in Mokokchung district to explore, drill oil and extract petroleum. India is simply testing our nerves without respecting our history and culture. "

Oil India Limited (OIL) last year has stated that it plans to start exploration in Nagaland once the climate is conducive. OIL has a 3000 sq. km area in Nagaland.

ONGC had earlier stopped E&P activities in Nagaland in 1994 after the militant outfit NSCN (IM) asked it to quit the state.