Domestic crude oil production fell about 5 per cent in November primarily because of a sharp drop in output at the Rajasthan oilfields operated by Cairn Vedanta, government data showed on Tuesday.

Also, natural gas production in the country fell 9 per cent to 2.3 billion cubic meters (bcm) in November largely because of a fall in eastern offshore field output.

During April-November, India’s oil production was 6 per cent lower at 20.42 million tonnes (mt). The output from Rajasthan during this period dropped 16 per cent to 3.91mt.

Gas output during April-November was 18.7bcm, down 11.8 per cent over the previous year.

The fall in crude production has raised concerns on meeting the Modi government’s plans to cut crude imports by 10 per cent by 2022. India is dependent on imports for 85 per cent of its needs and the government is pushing domestic explorers to raise output to help cut down imports.

Crude oil production in November at 2.48mt was lower than 2.61mt produced in the same month a year back.

Rajasthan fields produced 9.6 per cent less crude oil at 476,990 tonnes as Mangala, Aishwarya and other fields in the Cairn block flowed less oil for a variety of reasons, according to data released by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) produced 1.5 per cent less oil.

Oil India MoU

Oil India has signed a MoU with Assam Hydrocarbon & Energy Company aimed at establishing a joint institutional framework to facilitate bilateral co-operation in hydrocarbon exploration and development and marketing of natural gas in Assam.