Kochi: In a major step towards supporting offshore oil exploration in the Kerala-Konkan Basin, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Cochin Port Authority (CoPA) and Oil India Limited (OIL), a Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

 

The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri B. Kasiviswanathan, IRSME, Chairperson, Cochin Port Authority, and Dr. Ranjit Rath, Chairman & Managing Director, Oil India Limited, by Shri Vipin R. Menoth, Traffic Manager, Cochin Port Authority, and Shri Sanjib Kumar Gogoi, CGM (KGB & MBP) - HoD, Oil India Limited, at a formal ceremony held at CoPA, Willingdon Island, on Thursday (12-06- 2025). Senior officials from both the Cochin Port Authority and Oil India Limited were also present at the ceremony.

The agreement will provide critical logistical support to OIL’s upcoming drilling operations, scheduled to commence in late 2025. With this partnership, Cochin Port will strengthen its position as a vital hub for offshore energy exploration.

The shore base facility will come up at the port, with provisions for a warehouse, a dry bulk handling plant, and an exclusive jetty and will support offshore vessels operating round-the-clock. This initiative marks a key collaboration between a major central port and India’s second-largest national oil company. The project aims to streamline offshore support operations by offering berthing, refuelling, dry bulk transfer, potable water, and shore power facilities for OIL’s vessels.

The Kerala-Konkan offshore block, being explored by OIL, holds promising energy prospects. Cochin Port’s strategic location and infrastructure readiness made it the preferred choice for establishing the support base. The agreement is initially valid for 12 months starting June 2025, with scope for extension based on the progress of exploration. Environmental safeguards and operational safety have been given priority in the agreement. Oil India has committed to deploying eco-friendly and noise-controlled bulk handling systems, while ensuring strict compliance with port and state environmental regulations. This partnership will open up fresh avenues for infrastructure-driven support to India’s growing energy ambitions.

 

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