Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri visited Digboi in Assam on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, touring the site of India's first commercial oil well and one of the world's oldest operating refineries, calling the experience 'extremely inspiring' and linking the historic site to the country's contemporary energy ambitions under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sharing a glimpse of the visit on social media, Minister Puri wrote — translated from Hindi — that 'learning about the history of India's first commercial oil well and one of the world's oldest refineries located in Digboi, Assam, was an extremely inspiring experience.' He added that as India sets new benchmarks in energy security, self-reliance, and green energy under PM Modi's leadership, 'Digboi's history reminds us that every great achievement begins with a small sign, a great resolve, and unwavering dedication to the national interest.'

Context

Digboi, a small town in Upper Assam, holds a singular place in India's industrial history. Oil was first struck here in 1889, making it the site of India's first commercial oil well. The refinery that followed, commissioned in 1901 under the colonial-era Assam Oil Company, is among the oldest continuously operating refineries in the world. The facility is today operated by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) as part of the country's downstream petroleum network.

The minister described Digboi's legacy as 'not merely a story of the past, but a living chronicle of the dreams, struggles, and successes that laid the foundation of India's energy revolution' — ('ऊर्जा क्रांति की नींव').

Policy Backdrop

The visit comes as the Modi government pursues a twin-track energy strategy: sustaining upstream hydrocarbon output in mature basins such as Assam while simultaneously scaling renewable capacity. The Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, launched in 2020, explicitly set targets for raising domestic oil and gas production and reducing import dependence — goals Minister Puri has consistently championed.

Exploration activity in the Northeast has been a focus area under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), which invites bids for exploration blocks on a nomination basis. Digboi's basin remains part of India's active upstream landscape even as the refinery itself carries heritage status.

Stakeholders and Impact

The Digboi refinery, though modest in throughput compared to modern mega-refineries, is a significant employer and cultural anchor for the local community in Upper Assam. Its continued operation under Indian Oil Corporation is seen as both an economic and symbolic commitment to the Northeast. Workers in the oil sector and communities across the region track ministerial attention to the area as a signal of investment intent.

Successive governments have invoked Digboi's colonial-era legacy to frame contemporary hydrocarbon policy as a continuation of indigenous industrial capability. Minister Puri's post follows that tradition, explicitly connecting 1889's discovery to 2026's policy agenda.

What's Next

Observers will watch for any policy announcements tied to the visit — particularly regarding fresh exploration rounds in the Northeast under OALP or infrastructure upgrades at the Digboi refinery. Progress on the National Green Hydrogen Mission targets also forms part of the broader energy-security canvas the minister referenced. The ministerial visit, and the public framing around it, may presage a formal announcement on upstream or downstream investment in the region.