Oil & Natural Gas Corpn (ONGC) successfully commissioned gas evacuation facilities at Khoraghat GGS-1 in Golaghat district, Assam, on August 18, 2026. According to reports from Business Standard, the facility enables surplus associated natural gas from the Upper Assam Shelf to be processed and evacuated through the North East Gas Grid (NEGG) developed by Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL). The commissioning represents a crucial step in integrating regional gas resources with the national energy infrastructure, with the facility now monetising nearly 1 lakh Standard Cubic Metres (SCM) of gas per day that was previously flared. As reported by ONGC, this development complements the commissioning of the Dergaon-Dimapur Pipeline, which has connected Nagaland to the North East Gas Grid and the National Gas Grid, significantly expanding regional gas infrastructure.
ONGC's operational momentum has been reinforced by robust financial results, with standalone EBITDAX surging 61% year-on-year to ₹29,250 crore during the June quarter of fiscal 2026-27 (Q1 FY27), as reported by ONGC. This significant improvement in margins demonstrates enhanced operational efficiency despite a 3.9% decline in production to 9.8 MMT during the same period. The strong financial performance underpins ONGC's robust exploration plans, including the recently approved ₹84,084-crore Samudra Manthan exploration scheme approved by the Union Cabinet on August 1, 2026, which targets aggressive deepwater development through FY 2030-31.
The new connectivity will facilitate utilisation of nearly 1 lakh Standard Cubic Metres (SCM) of gas per day from ONGC's Jorhat asset, as reported by Business Standard. ONGC is further strengthening its gas infrastructure by developing additional hook-up facilities at Jantapathar and Kasomarigaon to connect more producing fields from the Jorhat Asset directly to the North East Gas Grid, according to ONGC. These projects are designed to significantly augment gas availability in the region, reduce flaring practices, and bolster the gas-based economy. The improved gas availability will create opportunities for households, industry, transport and power sectors, while supporting the economic and infrastructure development of Assam and the wider North-East region. As reported by ONGC, the improved connectivity will help create new opportunities while cutting flaring and improving energy access across the region.
The successful flow of natural gas from Upper Assam into the IGGL-operated North East Gas Grid represents a critical milestone for regional industrial users and city gas distribution networks. As reported by ONGC, this development integrates Upper Assam's surplus gas with IGGL's infrastructure, advancing the regional gas-based economy. Together, the infrastructure strengthens gas connectivity across the region and advances the vision of developing the North-East as a key growth engine of India and a more integrated gas-based economy. The commissioning of the Khoraghat facility monetises nearly 1 lakh SCM/day of gas that was previously flared, enhancing operational efficiency and improving resource utilisation, while supporting India's broader goal of increasing natural gas share in the primary energy mix from around 6% to 15% by 2030. The development builds on the recent commissioning of the Dergaon–Dimapur Pipeline, which has linked Nagaland to both the North East Gas Grid and the wider National Gas Grid, further expanding the regional gas network.
