The discussion around the future global demand, supply and reserve-situation is intensifying. Are we actually running out of oil (and gas) or not? And if so when? Will the reserves collapse or will new finds take care of the future? Will production keep up with demand? And if not, what then? Many questions and even more answers.

Arjun Kumar Arora

The Energy Situation and Policy of India

Director General, Petroleum Federation of India (PETROFED)

Educational Qualifications:

Post Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Refining & Petrochemicals, 1965, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, in collaboration with Institute of Petroleum (IFP), France.

Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, 1964, Delhi University.


Experience:

38 years in down-stream Hydrocarbon Sector.
Retired from services of Indian Oil Corporation Limited as Director (Refineries) after attaining the age of superannuation, 60 years, on 31.3.2003; functioned as a whole time Director for 8 years from 24.1.1995 to 31.3.2003 on the Board of Indian Oil, India's only Fortune 500 Company.

Professional Achievements:

1. Steered the Refineries Division of Indian Oil from January '95 to March '03. Key achievements of this period:

  1. Enhanced refining capacity from 450,000 BPD to 800,000 BPD, through cost effective expansions inclusive of secondary processing facilities, modernization, value addition including diversification to petrochemicals, product quality and technology upgrades, construction and commissioning of 120,000 BPD grass roots refinery at Panipat, fully operational since mid '99. Additionally taken up the project of setting up a zero residue high conversion grass roots 180,000 BPD refinery at Paradeep for which infrastructure development works at site are in various stages of construction.

    Established 'worldwide' bench mark in successful project implementation by setting up of 30,000 BPD Diesel Hydrodesulphurisation Plant, associated utilities & offsite facilities, acid gas treating , sulphur recovery unit, including integration & commissioning thereof in seventeen & half months within Indian Oil's largest operating Gujarat Refinery.

  2. Fully modernized and expanded India's oldest refinery at Digboi and its marketing infrastructure within & outside the North East of India, completing a century of its operations in January 2002.

  3. Provided leadership as Director (Pipelines) also from January'95 to January 98 for :

    • construction & operation of India's longest & highest capacity cross country multi product pipel ine spanning 1443 km with multiple tap off points equipped with leak detection and SCADA System,
    • expansion of Crude Oil handling facilities at Vadinar (West Coast of India) involving setting up of 2nd SBM and enhanced delivery system to Gujarat and Mathura Refineries as also construction of 350 km branch pipeline & associated Crude oil storage/pumping facilities from Chaksu to Panipat Refinery, branching off from Salaya Mathura Crude Oil Pipeline,
    • construction of 943 km Haldia-Barauni Crude Oil pipeline & its subsequent low cost expansion by 25%.
  4. Provided leadership to Indian Oil's R&D Division by holding concurrent charge of Director(R&D) from January '95 to July '98 and set up India's only pilot plant for Hydrocracking & Hydroprocessing. Carried out substantial restructuring of R&D Division inclusive of five year implementation plan of over 40 pilot plants and facilities to provide competitive edge to corporate business activities.

  5. Successfully steered the organization and its human resources( IOCians) to face competition in the post deregulated competitive environment. Despite substantial increase in activities and investment of nearly Rs 15,000 crore ( USD 3 Bn ) during January '95 to March '03 in various projects of Refineries Division including Assam Oil Division, achieved overall manpower reduction of over 23% in the same period within the Public Sector culture, giving further boost to productivity. Additional investment of over Rs 10,000crore (USD 2 Bn) is under way at Panipat Refinery for its capacity expansion, value addition, product quality upgrades including setting up of world's largest integrated Px-PTA plant at Panipat Refinery, progressively by June05, to enhance corporate profitability and return on investment.

  6. Implemented smoothly the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Project 'Manthan' in all six refineries of the Refineries Division and ensured readiness of Digboi Refinery to go live. (gone live on 1st April '03)

  7. Steered Apex Committees to synergise operations of IOC's subsidiaries - Bongaigaon Refinery & Petrochemicals Limited and Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited. Also provided stewardship as a Director on the Board of Directors of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited till 31.3.'03.

  8. Participated as member of sub committees of the Board of Directors, as part of Corporate Governance, on Contracts Committee, Planning and Projects Committee, Project Evaluation Committee, and Investment Review committee.

  9. Participated as a member of Empowered Standing Committee for import of Crude Oil and products on term contracts as well as procurement by monthly tenders.

  10. Discharged responsibilities of the Chairman Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. concurrently during periods of absence of the Chairman, including chairing of the Board meetings in such periods.

  11. Contributed significantly in the process of Community Development in line with the Corporate Vision and Policy.

2. Prior to the eight year tenure as a Director on the Board of Directors, worked in various capacities in Indian Oil's Refineries at Gujarat, Haldia, Mathura, and Barauni as well as at headquarters of the Refineries Division at New Delhi.

Responsibilities covered various facets such as Design/Engineering, Project Planning & Implementation, Trouble Shooting, Technical Services, Supply & Distribution, Planning & Co-ordination, Strategic Long Range & Perspective Planning, Control of entire refinery operations including utilities & offsites, Turn Around Planning & Management, Optimization & Advanced Controls, Manualisation & Institutionalisation, Aligning sytems to standards of ISO 9001/2, 14001, 10006, 18001, certification of NABL for all Quality Control Laboratories, Safety Audits according to ISRS, British Safety Council, OHSAS certification of all seven refineries, Energy Audits, Maintenance Audits, etc.

Worked on performance enhancement initiatives like Bench Marking, Quality Circles, Kaizen, TQM, TPM, RCM, RBI, Six Sigma, etc.

3. Results accomplished in each subsequent financial year outperformed the past best, winning several prestigious National and International competitive Awards.

Current Engagements:

With effect from 4th August 03, taken over as Director General of the Petroleum Federation of India (PetroFed), Indian Oil Bhavan, 8th Floor, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Yusuf Sarai, New Delhi 110016. Appointed as Member of the reconstituted Scientific Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas with effect from 8th October 03. Consultant to M/S UOP LLC, Des Plaines, USA for Middle East and Asia with effect from 23rd October 2003. Engaged by the Department of Public Enterprises as Member Task Force for finalization of MOUs 2004-05 in Trade/Services sector.

Areas of Contribution:

Can effectively contribute in Performance Enhancement & Corporate Governance, Strategic Planning, Project Planning/Evaluation, Investment Reviews/Audits, Member Advisory Board, R&D Council or Corporate Task

Force, Health Safety & Environment initiatives, Consultant to the top management team, etc commensurate with the vast and varied experience.