Production at the Ashoknagar oil field project in West Bengal is expected to start soon, with both ONGC and the state government actively working to finalise the deal. 

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has informed the Parliament regarding this. The oil and gas discovery, made in 2018, has seen an investment of Rs 1,000 crore by ONGC so far. The state government has facilitated the process by leasing land to ONGC, enabling the company to commence operations. With the recent notification of the Petroleum & Natural Gas Rules, 2025, the Minister expressed hope that issues related to stamp duty on leases and royalty would soon be resolved. 

This development is anticipated to boost local energy production and strengthen West Bengal’s role in India’s oil and gas sector, while paving the way for efficient exploration and extraction at Ashoknagar.