State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has taken possession of the CB-OS/2 offshore oil and gas block following the Delhi high court's refusal to grant Vedanta Ltd a 10-year extension of its production-sharing contract, the Centre informed the court on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani, representing the Centre, told the Delhi high court's division bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya that ONGC had already taken possession of the block and that an affidavit confirming this was on record. This update came during an urgent mention hearing after Vedanta had moved the court seeking to halt the government's takeover.
The development marks a significant shift in control of the CB-OS/2 block, which Vedanta had operated under a production-sharing contract. The Delhi high court's decision not to extend the contract underscores the government's authority to reassign offshore resources. This move aligns with broader efforts by the Indian government to assert control over strategic energy assets and ensure continued exploration and production under state-run entities.
The Delhi high court's division bench issued its ruling on July 22, 2026, denying Vedanta's plea for extension. Following this, ONGC took possession on July 23, 2026, as confirmed by the Centre in court filings, marking a definitive transfer of operational control of the CB-OS/2 offshore block.