Pankaj Kalra, CEO of Essar Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Ltd (EOGEPL), participated in a panel discussion alongside esteemed industry leaders at the India Energy Week. The panel, titled “Accelerating the Opportunities Towards Oil & Gas Decarbonisation,” featured prominent speakers such as Salah Al Ali, SVP of assets at ADNOC, Mansi Madan Tripathy, Country Chair of Shell India, and Najib Gharib, Marketing & Strategy Director – Asia at SLB. Moderated by Hari Shankarnarayanan, MD & Energy Lead – India at Accenture, the session delved into crucial strategies for mitigating carbon emissions in the oil and gas sector.
The panel discussed on the critical balance between India’s energy demand and security amidst the decarbonisation efforts. Pankaj stressed the importance of transitioning away from fossil fuels to cleaner forms of energy such as gas, and the significance of diversifying the energy mix to ensure both sustainability and security. Advocating adoption of cleaner energy sources, he highlighted the potential to reduce carbon emissions while meeting the growing energy demands of the nation.
Pankaj highlighted the role of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) as a transitional fuel in the journey towards a decarbonised energy landscape. He spoke about how the strategic utilisation of CBM can be a bridge between the present and future energy paradigms. He also outlined EOGEPL’s ambitious plan to contribute 5% of the Nation’s gas production, aligning with India’s broader energy objectives.
To meet growing energy demand in a sustainable manner, tech will have to play a major role in improving efficiency. Pankaj elaborated on how EOGEPL is employing advanced mechanisms and processes such as microbial enhancement and horizontal drilling to maximise production efficiency. He further added details of how Essar has a green blueprint at a global scale, that includes investment plans for refinery decarbonisation and carbon capture. Pankaj Kalra also added that the government is taking bold steps and initiatives to facilitate the transition towards a low-carbon economy. He acknowledged the government’s commitment to renewable energy targets, investment in infrastructure, and policy frameworks aimed at promoting sustainable energy practices. The panel agreed that an enabling environment for innovation and investment in clean energy technologies is critical to help India accelerate her decarbonisation journey and pave the way for a more resilient and sustainable energy future.