Andaman and Nicobar Islands EEZ [UPSC Notes]

India is going to complete a comprehensive survey of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands exclusive economic zone (EEZ) which is the first proper survey of the offshore area of Andaman. In this article, you can read more on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands EEZ, a topic relevant for the IAS exam economy as well as geography segments.

EEZ of Andaman

In order to conduct the survey, earlier the central government aligned all the stakeholders including defence and space agencies to release 99% of the areas prohibited for oil exploration and production.

• Data is being acquired for 23055 line km (LKM) and the Andaman offshore area is considered to be rich in petroleum resources and prospects for oil and gas resources are abundant.
• The survey is also nearing completion in the Eastern sector and Western sectors. The next step of the survey will be to cover the limits of the Indian Extended Continental Shelf (ECS).
• The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), the Ministry of Defence and the Space Department were aligned to release the prohibited land earlier and the survey is a joint effort of these three agencies.
• The National Maritime Security Coordinator, who is part of the National Security Council Secretariat, expedited the security clearances and the whole process was overseen by an empowered coordination committee.
• The size of the no-go zone has been brought down from 42% of the Indian EEZ of 2.36 million square kilometres to 24832 square kilometres after exhaustive consultation with the Indian Navy, Coast Gaurd and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The Indian defence forces and government departments are also indemnified from any damage caused to the resources due to exploration and production.
• Being the third largest energy consumer in the world, India is looking for ways to reduce its import dependence on oil and the survey is expected to yield significant sources of oil and gas in the Indian EEZ.
•  As per a comprehensive estimate, the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone is expected to contain 17 billion ton oil equivalent (BTOE) of Oil and Gas resources. Of the total 17 BTOE, 7.4 BTOE has been already discovered before the conduction of the survey.

Exclusive Economic Zone

The concept of an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was introduced under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

• EEZ extends to a maximum of 200 nautical miles from the baseline. The baseline is normally measured as the low-water line along the coast as indicated on large-scale charts officially approved by the coastal state.
• Within the EEZ, a country has sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing natural resources of the seabed, subsoil, and waters above it.

Read more on exclusive economic zones in the linked article.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands EEZ:- Download PDF Here