India, May 23 -- Maharatna public sector company Oil India Limited (OIL) has unlocked a new gas-bearing pay zone in Rajasthan's Dandewala field, marking a fresh development in India's domestic energy exploration efforts.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced the development on Saturday, describing it as an important step toward strengthening India's energy security and reducing import dependence.

In a post on social media platform X, the minister said natural gas has begun flowing for the first time from the shallower Sanu Formation in the Dandewala field at a production rate of nearly 25,000 standard cubic metres per day.

"India's quest to strengthen domestic production of energy scripts a new chapter ...