IndianOil’s next chapter: smart energy for a sustainable future
A.S. Sahney, Chairman, IndianOil, says the company’s top priority is to drive its next phase of growth by strengthening core energy businesses while scaling gas, petrochemicals, lubricants, and clean energy to build a more balanced portfolio over the next decade.
As you look ahead, what would be your top priority for IndianOil in the next 3 to 5 years?
Top priority is to prepare IndianOil for the next phase of growth by building strength across both our core and emerging businesses. Over the next three years, we want to ensure that our traditional energy businesses remain competitive and profitable, while at the same time scaling up the verticals of gas, petrochemicals, renewables, lubricants and biofuels.
Today, over 85% of our revenues come from conventional fuels, but by the end of this decade, we want 20–30% of our top line to come from newer areas like gas, lubes, petrochemicals, and clean energy. That is the kind of portfolio balance we are aiming for.
Our transformation agenda under Project SPRINT is already delivering results, be it in energy efficiency, cost optimisation, product upgradation, or customer centricity. We have already rolled out multiple initiatives under SPRINT, which have resulted in savings of over ₹2,000 crore annually. Our focus in on preparing the organisation to become agile and future ready in the decades to come.
What steps are you taking to build leadership depth and strengthen technical capabilities across the organisation?
The energy business is evolving rapidly, and we must stay ahead. In addition to infrastructure and innovation, the change will be largely dependent on people.
I firmly believe IndianOil’s most important asset is its human capital. Our aim is to empower IOCians through decentralisation and skilling. Over the past year under Project SPRINT, we have actively identified areas for nurturing future leaders. Specific workstreams have been created to push decision-making down the line and enable critical thinking.
On the technical side, our focus is equally strong. We're investing in cutting-edge R&D and in-house technology development. Our Faridabad R&D Centre has already become a global hub of energy innovation. But now, we are going a step further with new Centres of Excellence in nanotechnology, carbon capture, and green chemistry. This is essential to stay competitive in the new energy world and build the next generation of capable energy leaders.
As the global energy dialogue intensifies, how is IndianOil aligning with India's sustainability and 'Make in India' goals?
We remain fully aligned with both the sustainability and self-reliance imperatives laid out by our Hon’ble Prime Minister.
We are investing heavily in green hydrogen, compressed biogas, SAF and renewable power. Our subsidiary Terra Clean is spearheading renewable capacity addition, starting with 1 GW and scaling rapidly. We are also leading from the front in carbon capture and green refining innovations.
Parallelly, we are localising our technology value chain. IndianOil is now making refinery technologies and catalysts in-house, based on our own indigenous R&D technology. This is ‘Make in India’ in action where the end result is that we are reducing import dependency and creating value within the country.
We’re also consolidating the gas business for greater synergy, expanding city gas networks, and scaling automotive lubricants with a focus on premiumisation.
For us, innovation and indigenisation go hand in hand. That is the IndianOil blueprint for the future.
What are you personally looking forward to at India Energy Week 2026?
India Energy Week 2026 is a timely and vital platform. As the country redefines its energy roadmap, this forum offers the perfect opportunity to showcase how India is balancing scale with sustainability.
It’s a chance for IndianOil to present the various strides we are making across multiple fronts such as green hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel, carbon capture, clean mobility, and differentiated fuels. We will be unveiling our hydrogen mobility solutions that comprises of buses, scooters, drones. As well as showcase our cutting-edge energy innovations across the value chain.
What excites me the most is that IEW in a short span of few years has emerged as a convergence of ideas, policy, partnerships, and technology. It reaffirms India's role as a global energy leader.
