Meeting on Establishment of Oil Depot in Mizoram

Aizawl, December 2025: A meeting was held today at 3:00 PM at the MINECO office of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Minister Pu B. Lalchhanzova with senior officials of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and key officials of the FCS&CA Department to discuss the possibility of setting up an oil depot in Mizoram.

Chairing the meeting, FCS&CA Minister Pu B. Lalchhanzova said that the government led by Chief Minister Pu Lalduhoma has, since assuming office, been making all possible efforts to establish an oil depot in Mizoram, recognising it as a vital necessity for the state. He said the Chief Minister has been continuously pursuing the matter through DO letters and regular engagement with senior officials in Delhi. The Minister added that although a meeting with Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Pu Hardeep Singh Puri was proposed in December, it could not take place due to the Parliament session. Consequently, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) convened an official-level meeting on the issue of setting up an oil depot in Mizoram.

He further informed that on December 11, 2025, FCS&CA Secretary Pi Teresi Vanlalhruaii, MCS, attended the MoPNG meeting and presented various reasons highlighting Mizoram’s urgent need for an oil depot. As the Ministry assured that the state government’s requirements and requests would be examined in detail, IOCL was asked to explore possible ways to take the matter forward, leading to the meeting held today, as stated in the government release.

Pu B. Lalchhanzova emphasized to IOCL officials that Mizoram urgently needs energy security due to its strategic location, heavy rainfall causing frequent connectivity disruptions, dependence on the KMMTTP route, changing geopolitical dynamics in South Asia, and several other factors. He said the Mizoram Government would extend full cooperation and undertake all possible measures from its side, urging FCS&CA and IOCL officials to continue working diligently without losing momentum. He reiterated the government’s commitment to pursue the project until it is successfully realised.

The meeting was attended by FCS&CA officials, Deputy Commissioners of Aizawl and Kolasib districts, and IOCL officials including Pu Nitin Bhatnagar, Chief General Manager (Operations), IOCL, and Pu D.K. Pathak, Deputy General Manager (Operations), IOCL.