Shri Akshay Kumar Singh

Mr. Akshay Kumar Singh (aged 62 years) is a veteran of the Oil and Gas industry in India. His career spanning 38 years has wide-ranging experiences across design, engineering, planning, execution and O&M of complex pipeline systems and process plants. He has an unblemished track record of delivering challenging, complex and large size transnational as well as cross-country pipeline projects of national importance. Mr Singh is the Founder-Chairman of M/s Petronet Energy Limited (PEL) and Petronet LNG Singapore PTE Ltd (PLSPL), wholly owned subsidiaries of Petronet LNG Ltd (PLL). He has played a pivotal role in formation of these companies and marking PLL’s presence in International Market. He is also Chairman of Petronet LNG Foundation (PLF). He is Director on the Board of Adani Petronet (Dahej) Port Ltd and India LNG Transport Co (No 4) Pvt Ltd (Joint venture companies of PLL). Prior to joining Petronet LNG Limited, he was Director - Pipelines in IndianOil Corporation Limited. Under his leadership, India’s first transnational multiproduct hydrocarbon pipeline from India to Nepal (Motihari to Amlekhganj) was completed 8 months before schedule and was appreciated by Hon’ble Prime Ministers of both countries. He also set up the infrastructure (for IOCL) to execute City Gas Distribution projects in 17 Geographical Areas, at an estimated capex of INR 13,873 Crores. Before joining IndianOil, Mr. Singh served as Executive Director in GAIL India Limited. In a career journey of over 30 years, he worked across project development, project execution, corporate HSE, R&D and Risk Management. He ensured the completion of the 1000 kms Dhabol – Bengaluru (DBPL) and 700 kms Dahej – Uran / Dhabol – Panvel (DUPL/DPPL) Natural Gas Pipelines in record time of 15 and 11 months, respectively, which was appreciated by the State and Central Governments. He also led a team that derived the formulation of a unified pool tariff model for transportation of Natural Gas across the country, for submission to PNGRB. From 1996 – 2002, he was instrumental in developing Mumbai’s City Gas Distribution infrastructure, while working for Mahanagar Gas Limited. In 2015, he was tasked to lead a team that identified opportunities to maximise GAIL’s annual profitability, and that continues to deliver substantial impact. Mr. Singh has also played a pivotal role in the formation, execution and roll-out of key joint-ventures to develop hydrocarbon pipeline networks of national importance; (i) Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL), having equity participation of 20% each by IOCL, GAIL, ONGC, NRL and Oil India Ltd, for execution of 9250 kms long natural gas pipeline connecting all state capitals of 8 North East states, having capex of INR 9265 Crores; (ii) IHB Limited, a consortium of IOCL (50%), BPCL (25%) and HPCL (25%) for execution of one of world’s longest LPG pipeline (2800 kms) namely Kandla-Gorakhpur (KGPL) having capex of INR 10,888 Crores. He also served as Chairman of IHB Limited and as Director at Talcher Fertilizers Limited as well as Andhra Pradesh Gas Distribution Corporation Ltd. Mr. Singh is a Mechanical Engineer from MIT, Muzaffarpur and Post Graduate in Turbo Machinery from South Gujarat University.

Session Overview

Wednesday, 6 November

11:00

Strategic Conference ICC Hall 11:00 - 12:00

The strategic advantage of natural gas and LNG in the energy transition

Natural gas - and LNG in particular – is forecast to play an important role as the fuel of choice in the multifaceted energy system. However, although natural gas is supporting global energy security, particularly in Europe, where LNG supplies have increased by 15% since 2022, many argue gas should not be considered a long-term solution and its transition needs to be fast tracked. Many markets, particularly Asian, will look to affordable and secure LNG supply in their efforts to phase out coal in the decades ahead. Additionally, access to gas supplies will potentially play an important role in securing new energy supply to meet high volume AI demand. Given the conflicting pressures on gas production, what is the long-term future for natural gas? How can LNG establish itself as the fuel of choice during the energy transition and beyond?

Attendee insights:

Understand the role of natural gas and LNG during the energy transition, the perspectives on what role it may play in the long-term, including meeting high volume AI demand, and what may enhance or impede its growth potential in the global energy mix.