Ajit Kapadia

India is woefully short of both crude oil and natural gas (NG) and is heavily import-dependent. Mr Kapadia's presentation proposes to discuss the role of natural gas in detail and what policy initiatives are required to create a utilisation pattern for natural gas in India, as well as to remove some of the entry barriers.

Mr Ajit Kapadia graduated with a BSc (Hons.) degree from Bomby University in 1960 and proceeded to the US to graduate with a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Louisville, Ky. in 1963. Upon graduation, he spent the first seven years in the US working as a Process Engineer with leading engineering & construction companies, gaining vital experience in the areas of the fertiliser and hydrocarbon sectors. Upon returning to India in 1971, he continued to work in the process design area with Engineers India Ltd (EIL), gaining exposure in the petrochemicals, hydrocarbon refining and gas processing industry. In 1984, he was appointed on the Board of the newly-formed Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) as the first Director (Planning). In 1987, Mr Kapadia joined Hindustan Oil Exploration Company (HOEC) as one of the first employees to be soon appointed as Managing Director and invited to join the Board. He spent 17 years with HOEC and established it as one of the first private-sector E&P companies to have a full range of technical capabilities.

Upon retirement, he continues to serve HOEC as Senior Advisor. In addition, he has a number of board positions as a non-Executive Director. In 2003, along with very senior colleagues, Mr Kapadia organised a non-profit, non-government organisation called Centre for Fuel Studies and Research (CFSR), to analyse policy issues in the hydrocarbon sector with a view to optimising energy resources. He is a member of CII's Gujarat Energy Panel.