Your Responsibility Sustainabilityrime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the second Catalytic Iso-Dewaxing Unit at IndianOil’s Haldia Refinery on February 8,

Vol. LVIII | Issue No. 02

ResponsibilityYour

SustainabilityTowards

February 2021

Turn to Page 16 to know how

Editor-in-Chief: Subodh Dakwale

Senior Editor: Sadhana Khera Mittal

Editor: Anshu K Mahajan

Associate Editor: MVL Manikantan

CorrespondentsCorporate Office: Anirban Dasgupta

Refineries HO: Sabeena Chowdhary

Pipelines HO: Divya Tunkalia

R&D Centre: Mary Joseph

Marketing HO: Anubhooti Panda

Northern Region: Harish Gupta

Eastern Region: Arup Das

Western Region: Anjali Bhave

Southern Region: R Chidambaram

WRPL: Rajat Goyal

SRPL: Balakrishna Naik D

Guwahati Refinery: Elora Baruah

Barauni Refinery: Ankita Srivastava

Gujarat Refinery: Ciny Mathew Philip

Haldia Refinery: Sarbari Jana

Mathura Refinery: Renu Pathak

Panipat Refinery: RL Midha

Bongaigaon Refinery: Nilakshi Konwar

Paradip Refinery: Soudamini Sethi

Digboi Refinery: Priyam Medhi

MemberAssociation of Business Communicators of India

Edited & Published byExecutive Director(Corporate Communications & Branding)on behalf of

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.G-9, Ali Yavar Jung Marg, Bandra (East),Mumbai-400 051.Website: www.iocl.com

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ContentsEditorSpeak .................................................................................. 1

Innerscape

Happenings at IndianOil ................................................................2

Cover Story

Towards a Green Economy ...............................................14

Go Green on a Budget ........................................................16

Sunny Side Up .........................................................................18

Every Drop Counts. Conserve Water Now… .........20

Off the Grid

In an Icy Desert .................................................................................. 24

Spotlight

A Life Dedicated to Humanity ................................................ 28

All in the Family

Love Will Keep Us Together ...................................................... 30

Media Bytes ................................................................................32

Accolades .....................................................................................34

Unsung Heroes

A Stitch In Time, Saves Four ...................................................... 36

Straight Talk ................................................................................37

Quiz ...................................................................................................38

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IndianOil NEWS | February 2021 | 1

Click to play video

At IndianOil, we are constantly striving to be environmentally responsible, and our actions reflect our ethics. Recently, IndianOil signed an MoU with

North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to develop integrated waste-to-energy facilities at NDMC’s landfill site in Narela, New Delhi. IndianOil is also closely working with the IISc., Bangalore to develop biomass gasification-based technology for producing fuel cell grade hydrogen. Biomass would go a long way in meeting the country’s de-carbonisation needs.

In our Cover Story this month, we suggest how it is in your hands to lead a sustainable, green life and contribute towards a better future. Check out the tips to lead a sustainable life without having to break the bank. There is also a special story featuring retired IOCian Mr. KJ Thomas who has set an example by leading a Net Zero life.

February was a month of milestones for IndianOil. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi laid the foundation and dedicated to the nation a slew of projects in Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Catch the latest developments and much more in the Innerscape section. Our Chairman also visited multiple locations and inspired IOCians to reach for greater heights with a customer-first approach.

The Spotlight section features the story of our channel partner, the late Mr. P. Subramanian, who has been bestowed a Padma Shri. His legacy will live on through Shanthi Social Services, a public charitable trust. Through his Foundation, which also manages an IndianOil fuel station, he supported the most vulnerable families in Coimbatore.

The Unsung Heroes section captures the story of IndianOil tank truck driver S Murashavalli who demonstrated our core value of Care and went the extra mile to rescue a family of four involved in a road accident. In Off The Grid this month, we feature two key installations — the Leh Depot and Leh Bottling Plant. Despite being cut-off from the rest of the country during winters, IOCians at these locations tide over multiple challenges in their day-to-day lives and make sure IndianOil’s motto of Pehle Indian, Phir Oil lives on. The All in The Family section this month features a young couple — Rachita Tiwari and Pranshu Sachan.

We do hope you enjoy this month’s edition, available in multiple modes, including as a flipbook. Your feedback is important to us. And don’t forget to participate in this month’s edition of the monthly Quiz and win fuel vouchers.

Subodh DakwaleEditor-in-Chief

EditorSpeak

Prime Minister laid the foundation stone in a virtual ceremony in the presence of other dignitaries.

Click to watch a video on how Padma Shri Dr. Janak Palta McGilligan is inspiring the community by running a self-sustaining house.

Click to watch a video on two eco-warriors who have revived many lakes in Uttar Pradesh by removing tonnes of garbage from them.

Watch Chairman discuss the latest happenings at IndianOil in this edition of Straight Talk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo9djgDC9bo&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB_aMMGbI-s&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geDEb2bugns&feature=youtu.be

https://iocl.com/uploads/ioclxpress/Chairman_Messages/Straight_Talk_by_Chairman/2021/Chairman_Straight_Talk_2021.mp4

Innerscape

2 | IndianOil NEWS | February 2021

PM dedicates to the nation INDMAX Unit at Bongaigaon Refinery

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the INDMAX Unit at IndianOil's Bongaigaon Refinery.

Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the INDMAX Unit at the Bongaigaon Refinery

on February 22. Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Petroleum

& Natural Gas and Steel; Mr. Jagdish Mukhi, Governor of Assam; Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Minister of Assam; and Mr. Rameswar Teli, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries; were present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister stressed the need for India to continuously work towards becoming self-sufficient, to increase its strength and capabilities. He said that over the years, the refining capacity in India has greatly increased, especially at the Bongaigaon Refinery.

He added that the new unit will increase the capacity of LPG production and will make life easier for the people in Assam and Northeast. It will also increase employment opportunities for the youth in this region.

With the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Mr. Modi said that citizens were no longer enduring the

hardships owing to smoke from wood in their kitchens. He said, “LPG coverage in Assam has reached almost 100%. In the Union Budget this time, a provision has been made to provide free Ujjwala LPG connections to one crore beneficiaries.”

Mr. Modi also said that under the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Yojana, Eastern India is being connected to one of the world’s largest gas pipeline networks.

Project cost: `2,600 crore

Capacity: 0.74 MMTPA

INDMAX Unit at the Bongaigaon Refinery


“India is reducing energyimport dependence”

Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the Ramanathapuram – Thoothukudi

natural gas pipeline and Gasoline De-sulphurisation Unit at Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited, Manali. He also laid the foundation stone of CPCL’s Cauvery Basin Refinery at Nagapattinam. Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel; Mr. Banwarilal Purohit, Governor of Tamil Nadu; and Mr. Edappadi K Palaniswami, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu; were present on the occasion.

IndianOil’s 144-km long natural gas pipeline from Ramanathapuram to Tuticorin was completed at a cost of `700 crore. Prime Minister said that the pipeline will monetise the gas from ONGC gas fields and is part of a larger natural gas pipeline project being developed at a cost of `4,500 crore. It will benefit Ennore, Thiruvallur, Bengaluru, Puducherry, Nagapattinam, Madurai and Tuticorin.

The gas pipeline projects would also enable the development of City Gas Distribution projects which are being developed in 10 districts in Tamil Nadu at an investment of `5,000 crore. The pipeline project will transport natural gas

from ONGC gas fields in Ramanathapuram as feedstock to petrochemical and fertiliser industries in Tuticorin.

Prime Minister informed that the country plans to increase the share of gas in the energy basket from 6.3% currently to 15%. Enumerating the benefits for local cities, the Prime Minister said,

it is expected that the CPCL’s new refinery at Nagapattinam will have about 80% indigenous sourcing of materials and services and the refinery will boost development of transport facilities, downstream petrochemical industries and ancillary and small-scale industries in the region.

He asserted, “India is reducing energy import dependence, diversifying import sources, and building capacity. In 2019-20, India was the fourth largest refiner in the world and about 65.2 million tonnes of petroleum products were exported, a number that is expected to rise further.”

Dwelling on India’s stress on increasing the share of energy from renewable sources, Prime Minister said, “By 2030, 40% of all energy will be generated from green energy sources. CPCL’s new Gasoline De-Sulphurisation unit at Manali Refinery is another effort towards a greener future. In the past six years, over `50,000 crore worth oil and gas projects have been approved for implementation in Tamil Nadu; also in the same period, over `9,100 crore worth projects sanctioned before 2014 were completed. In addition, over `4,300 crore worth projects are in the pipeline.”

Prime Minister laid the foundation stone in a virtual ceremony in the presence of other dignitaries.

Click to play video

PM inaugurates and lays foundation stones of key projects in Tamil Nadu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo9djgDC9bo&feature=youtu.be

Innerscape


Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “India is committed to bringing

natural gas into Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime to make prices cheaper and uniform across the country. I want to tell the world: come invest in India’s energy sector.” He also elaborated that government plans to spend over `7.5 lakh crore in the country’s oil and gas infrastructure in the next five years. When GST was implemented in July 2017, petrol, diesel, crude oil, natural gas, and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) weren’t a part of the list.

Natural gas to be brought under GST regime

Dharmendra Pradhan (centre), Tarun Kapoor (left) and SM Vaidya attended the ceremony virtually.

Cauvery Basin Refinery, NagapattinamBoosting India’s Energy Security

Gasoline Desulphurisation Unit At CPCL's Manali RefineryBoosting availability of environment-friendly BS-VI grade fuel

Project cost: `500 crore

Capacity: 6 MTPA

Capacity: 9 MMTPA

Project Cost: `31,500 crore

Employment during execution phase: 130 million man hours

Direct and indirect employment: 7,500+

Ramanathapuram – Thoothukudi Natural Gas PipelineStrengthening Gas Infrastructure in Tamil Nadu

Project cost: `700 crore

Capacity: 8 MMSCM/day

Length: 144 kms


Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the second Catalytic Iso-Dewaxing Unit at

IndianOil’s Haldia Refinery on February 8, 2021. Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel; Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar, Governor of West Bengal; Mr. Tarun Kapoor, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel; Mr. SM Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil; Mr. Gurmeet Singh, Director (Marketing), IndianOil and other senior officials attended the ceremony.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the upcoming second Catalytic Iso-Dewaxing unit will reduce dependence on import of lube-based oils. “We are moving towards a situation where we will be able to create export capacity,” he explained.

This unit, with a capacity of 270 KTPA will be built at a cost of `1,019 crore and produce advanced Group-III Lube Oil Base Stock (LOBS) at Haldia Refinery. This will be

a first-of-its-kind installation in India. Currently around 70% of LOBS requirement is being met through imports. The project is expected to be commissioned by January 2023 and is likely to generate employment opportunities to the tune of 14.4 million man hours during the construction phase. It is also expected to yield saving of foreign exchange to the tune of $185 million.

Keeping in line with the government's Purvodaya vision of driving growth of eastern India, the PM also launched BPCL's Dobhi-Durgapur Natural Gas Pipeline section and NHAI's four-lane ROB-cum-Flyover at Ranichak, Haldia on NH-41. Spread across 348 km, the Dobhi-Durgapur Natural Gas Pipeline section has been built at a cost of `2,400 crore. This will help supply gas to industries, homes, and vehicles in several districts in West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, North-Eastern States and Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

PM lays foundation stone of the second Catalytic Iso-Dewaxing Unit at Haldia Refinery

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils the foundation stone plaque for the second Catalytic Iso-Dewaxing Unit at IndianOil’s Haldia Refinery.

Innerscape


Partha Ghosh, ED & Refinery Head. gave a tour of the Haldia Refinery to Tarun Kapoor, SM Vaidya and Dharmendra Pradhan.

Dharmendra Pradhan, Tarun Kapoor and SM Vaidya took a tour of the Haldia port and its facilities onboard an Indian Coast Guard hovercraft.

Mr. Pradhan, along with Mr. Kapoor, Mr. Vaidya and Mr. Singh, also visited the Haldia Refinery. The Minister was presented with a technical brief of the units by Mr. Partha Ghosh, ED & Refinery Head. Mr. Pradhan also interacted with IOCians and contract labourers. He keenly discussed the operational challenges pertaining to the refinery. Mr. Pradhan also reviewed the preparations of the upcoming state-of-the-art second Catalytic Iso-Dewaxing Unit and took a coastal tour of the facilities at Haldia Port.

Direct and indirect employment: 2,200

Project Cost: `1,019 Crore

Will save US$185 Million Foreign Exchange with

reduced imports

Proposed Date of Completion: April 2023


IndianOil reported Revenue from Operations of `3,51,285 crore for the period April – December 2020 as compared

to `4,27,348 crore in the corresponding period of Financial Year 2019-20. The Net Profit for the nine months ended December 31, 2020 is higher at `13,055 crore as compared to `6,499 crore during the corresponding period mainly on account of higher inventory gain and higher petrochemical margin during the current period.

The Revenue from Operations of IndianOil is `1,46,599 crore in Q3 2020-21 as compared to `1,44,835 crore in the corresponding quarter of FY 2019-20. The Net Profit for the third quarter of FY 2020-21 is `4,917 crore as compared to `2,339 crore in the corresponding quarter of FY 2019-20 which is due to higher inventory gain and higher petrochemical margin during the current quarter.

Mr. SM Vaidya, Chairman, said, “IndianOil sold 58.436 million tonnes of products, including exports, during the period April-December 2020. Our refining throughput for first nine months of FY 2020-21 was 44.759 million tonnes and the throughput of the Corporation’s countrywide pipelines network was 54.170 million tonnes during the year. The gross refining margin (GRM) during the period April – December 2020 was US$ 2.96 per bbl as compared to US$ 3.34 per bbl in corresponding period of previous financial year.

“For the third quarter of FY 2020-21, IndianOil’s product sales volumes, including exports, was 23.033 million tonnes. The refining throughput was 17.860 million tonnes and the throughput of the Corporation’s countrywide pipelines network was 21.806 million tonnes during the same period.”

IndianOil Q3 Net Profit jumps to `4,917 crore

Revenue from Operations for period ended

April-December 2020: `3,51,285 crore

Net Profit for Q3 FY 2020-21:

`4,917 croreRefining throughput for Q3 2020-21:

17.860 million tonnes

Revenue from Operations in Q3 2020-21:

`1,46,599 crore

Revenue from Operations for period ended

April-December 2019: `4,27,348 crore

Net Profit for Q3 FY 2019-20:

`2,339 croreRefining throughput for Q3 2019-20:

17.496 million tonnes

Revenue from Operations in Q3 2019-20:

`1,44,835 crore

Innerscape


marginal, is a matter of concern. Since marketing margin is the key profit area for us, our aim should be to get back to over 40% market share and beyond,” said Mr. Vaidya.

“Our sole aim should be to keep up our market share”Chairman interacted with distributors, dealers, and SERVO stockists and sought their inputs and suggestions on business initiatives.

Mr. Vaidya said, “In a world where customer is king and at a time when customer demands decide the business volume, we should focus on customer-centric initiatives to keep up our market share.” Mr. Jayadevan; Mr. Sinha; Mr. Annadurai, then CGM (RS), TNSO; Mr. S Pattabiraman, GM I/c (LPG), TNSO; and senior officials of TNSO, Chennai DO & AO were present.

“It is the commitment of the people that builds an organisation”Chairman visits multiple IndianOil installations in Chennai, motivates IOCians to focus on the customer

Mr. Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman, visited various installations of IndianOil spread across

Chennai in the last week of January. He reviewed the progress of multiple upcoming projects, interacted with and motivated IOCians to aim for greater heights.

Mr. Vaidya had a freewheeling interaction with Mr. Arup Sinha, then ED (RS), Southern Region; Mr. Jayadevan, ED & State Head, Tamil Nadu; and Mr. DS Nanaware, ED, Southern Region Pipelines, and other senior officials.

“With the risk of IndianOil being perceived as a lethargic giant, we need to be agile and focussed to fight competition. As we continue to invest heavily in refineries, we need to sell whatever we produce under our brand. We need to sustain and grow our market share. The recent fall in our market share, although

Chairman taking a tour of the Ennore LNG Terminal.


Channel partners felicitating SM Vaidya.Chairman motivated young Officers to face competition with determination.

Chairman noted how the 5-kg LPG cylinder Chhotu and regular Indane services could simultaneously benefit both, customers and the Corporation. Mr. Vaidya said, “The Indane tatkal booking seva, in which a cylinder is delivered within 45 minutes, is indeed going to be a gamechanger for single bottle connections. We should look at the possibility of using Chhotu as a night watchman.” Elaborating further, he said, “In the interim period of booking, we should encourage customers to opt for a Chhotu until their regular watchman, the regular 14.2-kg cylinder arrives.”

Motivating IOCians, Mr. Vaidya emphasised on the need to put customers first. “Every customer wants to leave the Retail Outlet premises quickly. We need to convince them that they are our valued customers in that small time frame. They should recall a positive experience at Retail Outlets. Q&Q assurance and 100% Dhruva compliance should be our focus,” said Chairman, adding, “We need to differentiate our services and customise for our target groups. Millennials and women customer base should increase, as they are mostly the decision makers.”

Interaction with young OfficersChairman also engaged with young minds at SRO, TNSO and SRPL. Around 70 young Officers who put forward their suggestions and ideas to the Chairman took part in the interaction.

Mr. Vaidya explained, “It is easy to be a leader in the industry but maintaining the position is hard. We need to be focused towards a single cause — maintaining our market share. Our commitment to work should be such that whatever competition comes our way, we should be able to face it with determination.”

Ennore LNG Terminal Chairman also engaged with young IOCians at SRO, TNSO and SRPL. Around 70 young officers, who put forward their suggestions and ideas to the Chairman, took part in the interaction.

Chairman was also briefed on the captive POL jetty of IndianOil coming up inside Kamarajar Port Trust, the latest new POL Terminal project in Ennore. IndianOil is constructing a 1,250-km pipeline from Ennore to Tuticorin with two major spur lines to Bangalore (297 km). The 22.3-km pipeline stretch from Ennore to Manali has already been commissioned, supplying LNG to CPCL, Madras Fertilizers Limited (MFL), Tamil Nadu Petrochemicals Limited (TPL) and Manali Petrochemicals Limited.

Mr. Vaidya interacted with young executives operating the natural gas pipeline station at Ennore LNG Terminal. He encouraged the team involved in the Ennore-Manali natural gas pipeline project, commending their involvement in transportation of gas. Mr. DS Nanaware, ED (SRPL); Mr. Shailesh Tiwari, CGM (Operations); and senior officials from SRPL were present at the occasion.

Innerscape


XP100—Super Bike Rally SM Vaidya flagged off a super bike rally from Shanthi Service Station in Chennai to promote XP100.

SAKSHAM 2021Chairman handing over a memento to a child with special needs during SAKSHAM observation, Chennai.

Mr. Vaidya also interacted with the Meenambakkam AFS team at the Chennai airport. He enquired about the refuelling facilities and future expansion of refuelling infrastructure at the airport and was briefed about the proposal of the Hydrant Refuelling System by IndianOil.

Chairman also enquired about the strategy to capture and maintain the aviation fuelling business with private aircraft operators, whose operations have increased by nearly 200% in last six months. Mr. Sinha; Mr. Jayadevan; Mr. Hemant Kumar Rathore, CGM (Avn), SRO; were also present during the interaction.

Chairman felicitates a lady customer attendant working at a Retail Outlet.


Indian Army and IndianOil took the initiative to felicitate Simran, a visually-impaired para-athlete

to motivate her ahead of the upcoming Paralympic Games in Tokyo. She was felicitated by Mr. PS Mony, ED (IB); and Lt. Gen. MKS Yadav, SM, DGST with sports equipment. Simran has won many gold medals in state, national and international level championships. She participated in Beijing 2019 World Para Grand Prix and China Open Athletics Championship and won a Gold Medal in the 100-metre track event.

A Helping Hand

The first tank truck loaded with XP100 was flagged off from Paradip Marketing Terminal in February by Mr. TDVS

Gopalakrishna, ED & RH, Paradip Refinery. Paradip Refinery has joined the select league of IndianOil refineries having the capability of producing XP100, the most premium quality of petrol available in the country.

Mr. VS Jain, ED, Paradip Refinery; Mr. Neeraj Jain, GM, Paradip Marketing Complex; and senior officials of Paradip Refinery & Marketing Terminal were present on the occasion .

Paradip Refinery flags off first batch of XP100

Mr. Dilip Kumar Banerjee, ED, WRPL, inaugurated the 2020-21 Vidushi batch in January. Classes for 60 selected

students will be conducted on an online mode with the combined batches of Jaipur and Noida Centers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. D Sriganesh, CGM (HSE, CSR & L&D), WRPL; and Mr. Rajiv Ranjan CGM (HRD, L&D & CSR), Pipelines HO motivated girls to make the most of this opportunity. Mr. Piyush Kumar Jha, GM, WRPL Chaksu, distributed laptops, dongles and SIM cards to facilitate the online classes. Vidushi, a CSR project, aims to provide specialised coaching to girls from underprivileged backward sections to secure admission in prestigious competitive exams.

2020-21 batch gets underway at Vidushi Centre in Jaipur

IOCians with the selected students at the inauguration.

Innerscape


“Vaccine is our weapon in the war against COVID-19”

Dr. Randeep Guleria, Director AIIMS, New

Delhi delivered the 10th Vyakhyan IndianOilLeadTalk lecture series on ‘Leadership in Uncertain Times’ in context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges, Crises and Solutions. Mr. SM Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil, along with functional directors and IOCians across the Corporation participated via virtual mode.

Mr. Vaidya elaborated that ever since the vaccination programme was rolled out, IndianOil, as a responsible corporate citizen, has been contributing towards cold-chain sustaining equipment in Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Manipur.

Dr. Guleria guided IOCians through a presentation which focused on how India rose as one and responded to the unprecedented crisis. He added that an early lockdown and subsequent phased unlocking, quick identification through testing and tracing and adoption of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour by the public helped in keeping the case overload relatively low.

Dr. Guleria said the 7 Cs — Calmness, Confidence, Communication, Collaboration, Community, Compassion and Cash — are critical to contain the disease. Dr. Guleria also dwelt on the response of AIIMS New Delhi which worked together as a team responsibly in its role as the country’s apex medical institute.

Commenting on the early development and deployment of the COVID-19 vaccines, Dr. Guleria said that

…said Dr. Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS at the 10th edition of VYAKHYAN IndianOilLEAD Talk Series

the vaccine is a potent weapon in the war against COVID-19. He added, “India has an advantage as it is a vaccine manufacturing hub. We are already ready with several good vaccines with more on the anvil.” He suggested that one must get vaccinated since the priority is to contain the disease. He also elaborated about the safety protocol associated after the vaccination. The event concluded with Dr. Guleria answering COVID-19 related queries from IOCians.

Chairman revealed that IndianOil is contributing towards cold-chain equipment in Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Manipur; (right) Dr. Randeep Guleria gives a talk.

Functional directors and IOCians participated virtually.


society, as nothing can be more satisfying than seeing the smiles of people who have been positively impacted by CSR interventions. “At the same time, it is imperative to move together ahead in a synchronised manner and take our achievements to an altogether new level,” he added.

Mr. SK Bose, ED I/c (HR), CO; Mr. Sugam Prasad, ED (ER & CSR), CO; Mr. UP Singh, ED (HR), Marketing Division; Mr. Raj Kumar Dubey, ED & SH (UPSO II); and Mr. SG Bhagwat, ED (ER & CSR), CO; were present at the venue while Mr. RC Upadhyay, ED (HR), Refineries Division and Mr. Shrikant Bhande, ED(HR), Pipelines Division connected virtually.

The Best CSR Project was bagged by Refineries Division for Gujarat Refinery’s Rainwater Harvesting Project at Vadodara, while the second prize went to Marketing Division for TNSO’s Human Milk Bank at Dharmapuri. The Best Performing Unit Award for implementation of CSR for the year 2019-20 went to West Bengal State Office, Marketing Division, while the second prize went to SERPL, Pipelines Division.

The two-day All-India IndianOil CSR Conclave was organised on February 12-13 in Dehradun. With the

theme ‘Opportunities Beyond Business’, the hybrid event was inaugurated by Mr. Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra, Director (HR) who joined the event virtually.

“Goodness is one investment which never fails”, said Mr. Mohapatra as he reflected on the year gone by, when IndianOil converted many challenges into opportunities through their resilient, dedicated and focused response leveraging their core value of ‘Care’.

Mr. Mohapatra asked CSR professionals to be passionate and drive activities to build strong and sustainable partnerships with stakeholders.

Appreciating the achievement of CSR teams across Divisions for having hit a hat-trick by achieving 100% budget utilisation, Mr. Mohapatra urged the HR & CSR Heads of the Divisions to adopt short and sustainable projects and not let go of any opportunity to serve the

I urge you not to let go of any opportunity to serve society: Director (HR)Gujarat Refinery & TNSO bag best CSR Project awards; WBSO & SERPL adjudged best performing CSR units

Gujarat Refinery: Winner — Best CSR Project.

WBSO: Best Performing Unit for Implementation of CSR (1st Prize).

TNSO: Runner-Up: Best CSR Project.

SERPL: Best Performing Unit for Implementation of CSR (2nd Prize).

Cover Story

Towards a Green EconomySustainable development, much like holistic healing, is about reducing carbon footprint and using resources efficiently for a better tomorrow

In the land of ayurveda, there’s always been an acceptance of a holistic approach to health and

wellness. Today, health can be measured in many ways, and the ‘band-aid fix’ is only one way to achieve optimal wellness.

Holistic health or holistic healing — which takes into account the body, mind and spirit — involves complimentary medicines and alternative practices that can overlap with modern-day medicine but goes beyond just the treatment of the symptoms. It works towards achieving optimum physical, mental and spiritual wellness in a sustainable way. One needs to look at their:

Physical Intellectual

Financial aspects for long term effectiveness of healing

Emotional Spiritual

Although intellectual and financial health are technically not included in the literal meaning of holistic health, they work very well to keep our body, mind and spirit fit at all times.

The same approach goes for sustainable development. Sustainable Development — that which meets the need of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs — is not just about the environment, but also has a broader focus. It is about taking into consideration the diverse needs of different communities, social cohesion and creating equal opportunity to ensure a strong and healthy society. It lays emphasis on finding better ways of doing things without affecting the quality of our life.

There are three components of sustainable development: economic growth, environmental stewardship and social inclusion without overburdening ability of future generations to meet their own need. This can include following guidelines

Refineries: 16.33 MMTCO2e

Marketing: 0.27 MMTCO2e

R&D: 0.01 MMTCO2e

Petrochemical Plants: 2.51 MMTCO2e

Pipelines: 0.42 MMTCO2e

IndianOil's unit-wise emission contribution in 2019-20

Today's liberalised global economy has placed significant strain on our resources.

Hence, having sustainable goals is imperative for a better future.

There are three components of sustainable development: economic growth, environmental stewardship and social inclusion

Easier said than done, it is never too late to act on these goals for a better tomorrow.

Seconds Read

By KK Sharma, ED (Sustainable Development), Mktg. Div. HO


such as using eco-friendly materials for construction, reducing the load on conventional power sources, opting for electric-friendly vehicles and even incorporating green space.

Today’s liberalised global economy coupled with an urgent need of blending progress with sustainability is putting tremendous pressure on the population. Further, rapid development on environmental measures and patches of slowdowns, disruptions caused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dislocation of supply chain, demand imbalances and market dilemma are further impacting health. In such a scenario, one needs to work on self-sustainability before taking up multiple responsibilities.

Taking an active part in achieving these sustainable goals will create a better future for us. Another bonus is that maybe we’d even get better at balancing our routine — both, at work and in life. The mere realisation of the need to look at these five dimensions — physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual and financial — holistically can set the tone for our plans and prospects in life. Having done that, one needs to only organise the support system, allocate budget and commit time to get to a holistically healed personality.

This task is easier said than done. But it is never late to accept things as they are and act on each and every gap. This way, we will not only be happy but can add value to our family, institution and society as a whole. Let us make a sincere attempt and see the much-needed change.

• A blend of dietary regulations and workouts;

• Cut down on oily food and increase intake of

fibres and fruits;

• Periodic health check-ups;

• Social interactions;

• Seek and render help;

• Optimal balance of karma and dharma;

• Daily meditation;

• Updating and upgrading professional and

personal skills;

• Focused attention on children’s education and

the health of the elderly;

• Maintain work-life balance;

• Assess your earning capability and spending

needs. Save for the future;

• Invest wisely;

• Identify your stakeholders in life and work. Be

free, fair and frank with them.

Some tips to be sustainable


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Go Green on a BudgetIf you need more reasons to go green, here’s one more — you can save money. Make these little changes to your lifestyle to protect natural resources and save the planet

By Dhanashree Patade, Manager (CC), Mktg. Div. HO

The scientific consensus is this: climate change is real. Hence, it is everyone’s responsibility to reduce one’s

carbon footprint and utilise natural resources judiciously. Adapting to sustainable lifestyle also means making a few changes that needn’t make a dent in your wallet. Here are a few life hacks that are easy to implement and sustainable.

Utilisation of solar energy Think solar energy for home use and the first thing that may come to mind is the expense involved. However, with attractive government subsidy schemes, using solar energy in your everyday routine can prove to be cost-effective without a lot of hassle. There are two options: the solar power inverter can be fitted inside homes, or solar panels can be mounted on the rooftop. One can also choose to be in the on-grid system in which, if a household is producing excess energy than it is using, it is sold to the power company.

You can choose off-grid model or hybrid model to use power from the grid system. And yes, if you live in a building, you can still opt for solar power — solar panels can be fitted on rooftops.

Double glazed uPVC windowsAnother practical solution to reduce energy usage is to install eco-friendly uPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) windows and doors. These low-maintenance frames are low conductors of heat. This keeps your home warm during winters and cool during summers.

Another bonus — these are made of recycled materials, thus reducing the environmental impact. What’s more? These can withstand various weather conditions which mean they are more durable than your primary options. Double-glazed uPVC windows can also cut down noise by 50% which makes it well worth considering.

Click to play video

Click to watch a video on how Padma Shri Dr. Janak Palta McGilligan is inspiring the community by running a self-sustaining house in Madhya Pradesh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB_aMMGbI-s&feature=youtu.be


Waste managementYou can segregate everyday waste into dry waste and wet waste. In fact, you can go one step ahead and even convert household waste into compost at home. The compost cans for processing a large volume of waste are also available on various e-commerce sites.

Rooftop rainwater harvesting systemRainwater, after flowing through a series of filters and pipes is, either stored in ground-level containers for direct use for recharge into groundwater.

For new buildings (with more than 100 sq. m. area), rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory by some state governments.

Generally, installing a water harvesting system in existing buildings would cost between `3,000 to `40,000 for buildings of about 300 sq. m. The costs would be comparatively less if the system were incorporated during the construction phase.

It is also important to maintain the rainwater harvesting system so as to ensure optimum performance and good quality water.• Just before the arrival of monsoon, the rooftop/

catchment area has to be cleaned properly.• The roof outlet on the terrace should be covered with

a mesh to prevent entry of leafs or other solid particles into the system.

• The filter must be either replaced or washed properly before the monsoon.

• The diversion valve must be opened for the first five to 10 minutes of rain to dispose-of the polluted first flush.

• All polluted water should be drained away from the recharge structures.

The depth of bores (of recharge structures) should be finalised depending on the actual site condition.

EV CarUnfotunutely, EV cars have always had a misfortune of being assumed to be cheap and unreliable. But that’s changing. You can choose from across the price range — today, there’s Tata and even Mercedes Benz launching electric vehicles. These EVs can be charged using solar power; they are perfect for everyday city rides. That’s not it. According to the 2019 budget, a deduction for interest payments up to `1,50,000 is available under Section 80EEB. Individual buyers can claim tax deductions on purchase of EVs making it a win-win situation.

IndianOil, too, has been venturing into EVs. It has already installed EV-charging points at 76 fuel stations, and battery swapping facilities at 11 outlets across the nation.

Energy-efficient appliancesElectric appliances account for roughly 40% of the energy bills. Therefore, it is imperative to use the appliances judiciously. Check the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)-labels on the product. The rating will help you choose products which consume less energy. Operate appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators and air conditioners at their optimum capacity so that they will use less electricity.

Sunny Side UpRetired IOCian Mr. KJ Thomas spends zilch on his energy consumption but gives back to the environment by leading an emission-free, waste-free life, thus leading by exampleBy Radhika S, Manager (CC), SRO

Leading a Net Zero Life — cutting down

carbon emissions to, well, zero — is hard. But retired IOCian, Mr. KJ Thomas, who lives a Net Zero Life by all means, proves that this ambitious venture is very much possible. Putting his experience and technical learnings from IndianOil to use, Mr. Thomas switched to renewables and leveraged solar power for his domestic energy needs. The power requirement of Mr. Thomas and his family is fully met by a 600 sq. ft. 6.12 kWp rooftop solar system installed in his house.

A diploma holder in Electric Engineering,

Mr. Thomas joined IndianOil in 1981 in the Pipelines Division, at SMPL (Salaya Mathura Pipeline), Viramgam. Incidentally, the motivation behind going for solar power came from his experience while working at Viramgam where the first solar power system for

cathodic protection system was installed at IndianOil. His association with solar power did not end here; it continued during his tenure at CTMPL (Chennai-Trichy-Madurai Product Pipeline), Sankari, during 2006-2011 as well.

While investing in one-time solar panels may seem a little pricey (`4.25 lakh for the imported solar

KJ Thomas charging his electric vehicle.

The 6.12 kWp rooftop solar system.

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panels and inverter), the long-term savings accrued by not having to pay for power or fuel makes it a much cost-efficient and a sustainable mode of energy. All of Mr. Thomas’ home appliances including induction cooking system and water heater are powered by solar energy.

Mr. Thomas beams, “Apart from solar power, the launch of electric vehicles (EVs) also encouraged me to go green as it guarantees a sound- and emission-free drive. Generating this solar power gives the advantage of living in a pollution-free environment at home with no bills on electricity, cooking gas and auto fuel for 25 years. This also accounts for

a substantial long-term saving on the minimal investments in equipment.” The solar module installed at Mr. Thomas’ residence is grid-connected and the excess power generated is being fed to Kerala State Electricity Board.

With the COVID-19 pandemic restricting movement, the average consumption is much lesser for Mr. Thomas’ household. “At present, the average consumption is about 20 kWh and during the rains, it will be within 15 kWh. Due to the pandemic, the EV is consumed sparingly and thus, frequent charging of the EV is not required. The present production of solar power is a surplus,” added Mr. Thomas, who also owns an electric car.

Mr. Thomas’ interest in solar energy is not limited to his personal use. As the President of IndianOil Officers Cooperative Housing Society, he is also doing his bit in his circle. Recounting his experience, he says, “We have installed 100 kW solar system on the rooftop to cater to common power requirements. The rebate on stamp duty on account of solar power installation and rainwater harvesting almost offsets the cost of investment.”

Demonstrating the IndianOil core value of Care through his life, Mr. Thomas attributes his

passion for pursuit of renewable energy to IndianOil. “If not for IndianOil, I would never have had such a perspective about energy consumption and conservation. It is my experience with solar energy while working at various locations that instilled this urge to shift to renewable energy and also made me think deeply on how to live a Net Zero Life,” he recounts.

Mr. Thomas’ wife, Dr. Mary Janet, a retired homoeopathy practitioner from the Health Department, Government of Kerala, their three daughters and a son have also embraced the pollution-free lifestyle by living a Net Zero Life. “If all of us go for EVs in our country, oil import can be reduced drastically to save the environment and economy of the country. Solar-powered charging stations can make the environment pollution-free,” concludes Mr. Thomas.

Mr. Thomas’ wife, Dr. Mary Janet, a retired homoeopathy practitioner from the Health Department,

Government of Kerala, their three daughters and a son have also embraced the pollution-free lifestyle by living a Net Zero Life. “If all of us go for EVs in our

country, oil import can be reduced drastically to save the environment and economy of the country. Solar-

powered charging stations can make the environment pollution-free,” concluded Mr. Thomas.

KJ Thomas with his family.


Every Drop Counts.Conserve Water Now…

India houses 16% of the world population but Indians have access to only 4% of the world’s fresh water! This is a huge gap that can be filled through various proactive conservation methods.

By Selvi Singh, GM (CC, Plng. & Coord.), PSO

Water, though a renewable resource, is not as easily obtained as one might imagine. There are two

primary types water sources- i) Surface water (rivers, ponds, lakes, artificial storages) and; ii) Ground water, but these are not always easily accessible to everyone. The availability of water has the power to shape the demography of a particular place.

Water depletionFrom 1950 to 2010, the net agricultural land in India has increased almost three times. Over the years, this led to adopting groundwater (tube well) irrigation, in addition to surface water (rivers, lakes, ponds). Urbanisation and industrialisation have also contributed to increased water

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litres wastewater recycled in IndianOil to reduce fresh water requirement in 2019-20

41.35 billion

16%

683rainwater harvesting systems have been installed across the Corporation

reduction of specific water footprint by IndianOil Refineries in 2019-20

Stage of Ground Water Extraction Category

≤70% Safe

>70% & ≤90% Semi-critical

>90% & ≤100% Critical

> 100% Over-exploited

consumption in isolated areas. As a result, the groundwater level started declining in

many places. Depleting water levels, over the years, has caused reduction in per capita water availability, from 1816 cu.m. in 2001 to 1544 cu.m. in 2011. It is estimated to further decline to 1230 cu.m. by 2050.

Categorisation based on quantity of water availability and quality of waterBased on the status of groundwater quantity and status of water extraction from the ground, areas have been categorised as Safe, Semi-critical, Critical and Over-exploited, shown in the table below:

to scarcity of water, the only solution is the avoidance of planting such crops. At least one state in the country has already asked the farmers to switch to millets and pulses instead of rice.

Remedial measuresWe can adopt some traditional and scientific ways for conserving water, which are no cost/low-cost solutions:• Revival of deserted ponds and lakes for water storage as

well as for recharging the groundwater in the surrounding areas. This will also improve the quality of groundwater, which can act as home for birds, fish and water plants;

• Cleaning of rivers and lakes; • Deepening of ponds;• Protection of forests for soil and water conservation;• Raising groundwater level by way of recharging,

construction of percolation ponds (Johad is a simple, low-cost, traditional water storage structure);

• Construction of check dams along the course of river flow;• Groundwater replenishment by retaining rainwater.

Groundwater flows from fully recharged areas to unsaturated/undercharged areas through cavities. Rainwater harvesting for storing water for future use or directly letting into the ground for groundwater recharging is a good measure;

• Reusing the recharged water — planning and delivery of water based on estimated water availability;

• Designing policy to encourage minimum household water usage;

• Involving the community in water conservation process from planning to execution stage;

• Real-time water quality monitoring stations;• Water conservation should become a huge hit among

children and women; ‘water warriors’ be developed by way of training and seminars to save every drop of water;

• Coming up with cost-effective solutions for water conservation in households, institutions, industries, commercial organisations, hospitality sector, agricultural sector.

National Water Policy 2012In order to provide focused attention to vulnerable areas including over-exploited, critical and semi-critical areas, and to arrest the trend of over-exploitation of groundwater, Government of India introduced the National Water Policy in 2012. As per this policy, water is

Risks due to reduced water availability and contaminated water: Apart from affecting us at an individual level — drinking, food, sanitation, washing, gardening, and cattle rearing — water contamination poses the following risks:• Millions of people, the world over, do not have access

to clean water and are forced to use water that is contaminated with faeces;

• Contaminated water doesn’t just cause diseases, it also affects children’s education and adults’ productivity and livelihood;

• People in water-starved areas cannot wash their hands regularly;

• Quality water, sanitation and hygiene can prevent waterborne diseases as well as reduce related deaths;

• Feeding and cleaning cattle is a daily challenge for those living in water scarce villages;

• At the commercial level, agriculture, industry, fishing, dairy farming, etc. are all disrupted. Five of the most water intensive crops — rice, cotton,

sugar cane, soya and wheat — are also part of the staple diet in most parts of the country. However, due


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• Use guides to know how much water is needed for each type of plant and in different seasons;

• Recycled water used for lawns;• Rooftop rainwater harvesting.

Success story

Hiware Bazar Village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra had been drought and poverty affected for many years, between 1970 and 1990. Through water management steps, this village showed improvement, and went from being water scarce to water surplus.

The village implemented steps such as constructing continuous contour trenches, construction of percolation tanks, widening and deepening of drain beds, tree plantation for soil and water conservation and changing crop patterns. This village is also one of the few cases of reverse migration.

Water table in the village rose from 70 - 80 feet to 20 - 25 feet. Hiware Bazar has taken commendable strides in several fields including agriculture, village infrastructure development, environment conservation, dairy development, livelihood, sanitation, and of course, water management.

regarded as ‘scarce natural resource, fundamental to life, livelihood, food security and sustainable development’.

Simple, home-scale water conservation solutions• Running washing machine and dishwasher only

on full loads;• Aerators in washbasin taps; • Plugging even minor leakages;• Providing overflow alarm in overhead tank;• Do not let the tap run while brushing, shaving; • Balcony garden — providing small pebbles, stones at

the top would help in reducing evaporation of water;

Click to play video

Click to watch a video on two eco-warriors who have revived many lakes in Uttar Pradesh by removing tonnes of garbage from them.

Go for natural cleaning agents which are non-toxic and chemical-free

Opt for recycled tissue paper.

Go for natural cleaning agents which are non-toxic and chemical-free.

Skip single-use plastic straws for aluminium straws.

Choose biodegradable garbage bags.

Swap LED lights for incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent lights.

Use a bamboo toothbrush.

A few hacks to live sustainably

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geDEb2bugns&feature=youtu.be


19.54 MMTCO2eGHG Footprint of IndianOil

0.32 MMTCO2eEstimated emission saving from

renewable energy projects

ConclusionWe may have money to provide infrastructure, but water may not be available. We find it extremely inconvenient to spend even a day without water; imagine the plight of those not having access to water at all!

In a few countries, water is being used four to five times before disposal, whereas in India, we are accustomed to disposing it off, after first use.

It is our responsibility to save water for the sake of those less fortunate people who live on a limited supply of water and also for our future generations.

3.26 MMTCO2eCumulative reduction from various GHG

mitigation initiatives

122Organic Waste Convertors/Bio-methanation

across IndianOil locations have been installed

0.03 MMTCO2eEmission reduction from LED lights as

compared to conventional lights

2.26 lakhNumber of saplings planted by IndianOil in and

around its various operating locations.

19.54 MMTCO₂eTotal Carbon footprint of IndianOil in 2019-20

0.23 MMTCO2eAnnual emission reduction potential from Energy

Conservation ENCON projects implemented in refineries in FY20

1.45 MMTCO2eEmission mitigation from pipeline

transport replacing rail

References:

Rainwaterharvesting.org

Hydratelife.org

Indiawaterportal.org

National water mission

Cgwb.gov.in

Mowr.gov.in

GEC2015 report (Ground Water Estimation Committee Report)

Wikipedia

IndianOil Sustainability Report-2019-20


Off The Grid

IndianOil has its footprints across the length and breadth of the country, with IOCians taking up the mantle to ensure fuel security in remote, far-flunged locations.

They work through harsh winters in the mountains, arid deserts and damp islands. With our latest feature, Off the Grid, we focus on lives of IOCians serving in these geographically diverse locations.

In an Icy DesertLife isn’t easy for IndianOil employees deployed at the Leh Depot and Leh Bottling Plant. Is it the IOCian spirit that helps them hold up against the day-to-day challenges of working in the frozen remoteness of the mountains? Read on...

Situated at an altitude of over 11,600 ft above sea level, both Leh Depot and Leh Bottling Plant

are cut off from the rest of the world for about five months of the year, i.e. from November to March. The temperature during winter is always at sub-zero — it varies between -10˚C and -20˚C, but can go as low as -30˚C. In summers too, the temperature

generally remains below 0˚C, and only during peak summer does it rise a bit. Talking about the geography, the region doesn’t have much greenery. Fruits and vegetables are not available during winter, and the teams have to stock up essentials for about five months, since roads are closed and there is no local production here.

Leh Depot handles the receipt, storage and dispatch of products from Jalandhar, Sangrur and Jammu.


Leh Bottling Plant, commissioned in 2002, has eight pre-filling and four final-filling units.

The small team at the Depot efficiently manages most of the operations among themselves.

Internet connectivity is not smooth and there is often breakage of network. During the COVID-19 lockdown, many of the Depot’s systems worked with limited internet connectivity.

The Bottling Plant too has its own sets of challenges. When the plant was getting commissioned, the power department refused to supply electricity citing lack

During summer, when the roads are open, the team at the Depot has two basic operations — the first is receiving the 75-odd tankers of petrol, diesel, kerosene, and jet fuel arriving from Jalandhar, Sangrur and Jammu. The second operation is dispatching these products to fuel stations and institutional customers including the Indian Army, All India Radio and utilities department of the Union Territory. In the winter, the receiving operations are shut, but the dispatch of products goes on.

Leh Bottling Plant was commissioned in 2002 and has eight pre-filling and four final-filling units. Unlike other locations which have carousels, the plant has unit-filling machines due to low demand, since Ladakh is a sparsely populated area and 40% of the plant’s LPG dispatch is to the Indian Army.

Working in a cold desertAt present, there are two people at the Leh Depot and between the two of them, they manage all work including maintenance, safety, finance, operations, etc.

Work at the Depot during summers involves receipt and dispatch of stock and during winters, it is limited to just dispatch of products and accounting. Overall, the team carries out the usual inspection of tank trucks, arranges their dispatch, makes challans, takes dips, looks after any technical problems and manages accounts.

The Depot has a 35 kV solar power source to run the Plant’s operations, a generator for heating purpose and the remainder of the power requirement is fulfilled by electricity.

Due to the high altitude of Leh, the oxygen level in the air is considerably less than that in the low lying regions of the country. This often takes a toll on employees' stamina and health especially of those who are not locals. Breathlessness, exhaustion, and lingering headaches are common. The dearth of oxygen also affects one’s memory. Lastly, since the air is thinner, one runs the risk of getting exposed to harmful UV radiation from the Sun. This might even lead to skin cancer.


Off The Grid

of requisite capacity. Hence, IndianOil installed a solar power plant, which considerably reduced their dependence on the generator. The solar plant now powers the entire facility.

Another challenge is ventilation, which is an extremely important safety requirement at a gas bottling plant. The team hasn’t been able to find a solution yet to make ventilation optimum but are working on it.

The Bottling Plant runs on a solar power source, which has reduced their dependency on diesel — a commendable step towards self-sustainability and eco-friendliness.

Equipment failure is a regular challenge at the Depot; hence, they have to maintain a huge inventory of spares.

In a location such as Leh, the site in-charge’s role entails not just getting work done but also keeping his team motivated. Just the way our teams exhibit the courage to work under hardship, we, as leaders, exhibit the empathy to understand their challenges. Talking and listening to the team members and participating with them in all activities, go a long way in team bonding.

— Kacho Sajjad Hussain, Depot Manager, Leh Depot & Sunil Kumar, Plant Manager, Leh BP


Unforgiving wintersWinter, especially from December to January, is the most difficult to work. Since water freezes, pipes and taps for running water are rendered useless. The teams have to arrange for water in buckets and all their other chores are affected due to unavailability of running water.

Since roads are closed during winters, the teams have to stock up essentials in advance. This holds true for things of personal use such as eatables and medical supplies as well as spare parts.

Most of the equipment used at the Depot is designed for operating at the usual locations in the country. These equipment do not work optimally in the harsh climatic conditions of Leh and break down many a time. Hence, the team has to always maintain a huge inventory of spares in their store as parts are not easily available in the market.

The Bottling Plant too sees frequent breakdowns of conveyor chains, and machines such as filling guns, O-rings, and TLD guns operate slow because of the cold temperatures. For the water test, SERVO Kool coolants are mixed with water to prevent it from freezing.

Due to roads being closed from October to November, the plants have to order all heavy equipment before October. They stock up supplies during summer, starting from May, which includes having all the necessary documentation in place. If they fall short on anything, they cannot order it immediately, and need to wait an entire season before they can access it.

Finding solace in solitudeThe remoteness of this location doesn’t allow for much recreational activities, but the teams do find time to bond. In summers, they play cricket and volleyball, while winters are mostly limited to indoor games such as table tennis and badminton. Staying in the same transit area, they talk — share stories from work, discuss new undertakings at each other’s sites, and so on. At times, they go on picnics and sightseeing trips, have team lunches, and indulge in other similar activities that create a sense of togetherness and belonging.

Working for IndianOil: An enriching experienceIOCians deployed in Leh — both at the Depot as well as the Bottling Plant — see their posting as a great opportunity granted by the Corporation. Getting to know the challenges people face here, understanding their culture, and knowing them has been an enriching experience for IOCians. They also opine that through its work in Leh, the Corporation is contributing greatly to the nation.

The 75-odd tank trucks at the Depot, that operate in all seasons, ensure smooth supply of fuel to customers.

The team at Leh Bottling Plant often arranges team lunches, picnics, and meets on special occasions in a bid to foster team bonding.

Spotlight


A Life Dedicated to HumanityPopularly known as the ‘Gear Man of Coimbatore’, IndianOil's channel partner P Subramanian was posthumously honoured with Padma Shri this yearBy Rajasekar Rajaram, Manager (CC), SRO

In Coimbatore, every local was familiar with ‘Gear Man’,

Mr. P. Subramanian. So, it was about time the country recognised the philanthropist and his story, even if it meant posthumously. This Republic Day, the yeoman service of Mr. Subramanian has been recognised with a Padma Shri award by the President of India.

The late Mr. Subramanian, founder of Shanthi Social Services (SSS), Coimbatore runs one of the largest selling retail outlets in the country. Professionally associated with the operation of IndianOil’s Retail Outlet, he was also known

for his work beyond his day job. The celebrated entrepreneur made social responsibility as his primary objective, and his business thrived side-by-side.

In philanthropic charity, he set a new template, proving that charity needn’t necessarily be doling out wads of cash to the needy, but by paying it forward in kind. Mr. Subramanian gave back to society which allows its business to exist and thrive, benefitting its stakeholders.

These services include incredibly low-priced food in his canteen which also offers free food to

Philanthropist Mr. P Subramanian, known as 'Gear Man of Coimbatore', was posthumously conferred with Padma Shri.

After his company — Shanthi Gears — was acquired in 2012, he focused his attention on social and philanthropic services.

He founded Shanthi Social Services (SSS) which runs a pharmacy, hospital, clinical lab, blood bank, a canteen and supports underprivileged students.

The Retail Outlet at Coimbatore; (inset): P Subramanian

Seconds Read


The team at Shanthi Social Services.

elderly, deeply discounted medical consulting, diagnostic services, pharmacy and optical retailing. Such discounts are possible owing to absolute business and cost efficiency, which he managed to ingrain into the system.

Discounts and lower prices never meant erosion in value of the services of SSS. When it came to caring for customers, Mr. Subramanian had an eye for the smallest of details such as fine-tuning the process for hygienic washing of utensils in his canteen kitchen.

He also proved that when you have deeper insights of customer needs by personally engaging with them and set scrupulously stringent SOPs and exceptional service standards, you can meet their expectations consistently.

The numbers speak for themselves. Be it 1,000 KL plus product sales per day, 6,000 spot lube changes, more than customer drive-ins every day, 15 air towers with 5,000 air fillings a day and many more, these are spontaneously-achieved benchmarks. Through sustained delivery of such values, SSS made a place for itself in the hearts of countless customers.

While Mr. Subramanian maintained a low profile, he never really distanced himself from the core processes of the business. He kept a watchful eye on the fuel outlet operations and other facilities from a nondescript building, tucked

away in a corner of the SSS campus, often disguising himself as a customer attendant or a customer.

While most of us tend to look at him through the prism of SSS, the kaleidoscopic canvas of his life is far wider. Mr. Subramanian has always been a skilled technocrat with sharp business acumen. This helped him build Shanthi Gears Limited — manufacturers of gears, gear boxes and gear assemblies — from scratch to be the third largest gear maker in the country at one time. His legacy will live on through Shanthi Social Services.

Shanthi Social Services (SSS) in Coimbatore became the highest-selling petrol outlet across the country in January 2021.

The SSS station alone contributes to around 25% volume share of Coimbatore 2 Sales Area. The outlet fuels around 11,000 vehicles and provides free air services to around 5,000 vehicles in a day. The station offers unmatched service in terms of Q&Q perception, 100% billing for its customers, round-the-clock oil change facility at special discounts, a dedicated helpdesk for the customer, loyalty programmes, etc.

SSS is the highest petrol-selling IndianOil RO


All in the Family

How did you two meet? Rachita Tiwari: We met the day we joined IndianOil, June 3, 2013 — it was the first day of our induction in New Delhi. We quickly became good friends. Sometimes, things just click; you find somebody like-minded. Since we were posted in different cities, I would travel on weekends to meet him. And then there was this SAP training at IIPM in July 2014, where the entire batch was reunited… Pranshu: I think that’s where things started to get serious…Rachita: Both of us were looking for marriage prospects so we thought why not get married to each other? Everything happened pretty fast — he spoke to my parents by around August-September and we eventually got married in February 2015. We learnt later that people would say, “Yeh dono ka kuch hoga.” (Laughs)

What was the reaction amongst your batchmates?Rachita: One of our friends, Karan Gupta, has known us since our early days. In fact, Karan too is currently posted in Corporate Office. He always hinted that Pranshu and I should get together since there was some spark. He was the happiest when we decided to get hitched. He’s Pranshu’s batchmate, and one of our closest family members. We are neighbours today.

How do you manage your workload with a toddler to look after? Pranshu: Once I come home, I automatically just switch off from work. After Naira was born, this happened automatically. I can’t work with her around because she wants my complete attention. It can get a little difficult at times but parenthood is a wonderful experience.Rachita: There have been instances where I asked

Pranshu to work from home during the lockdown and the bosses accepted those requests. Even today, they have granted us alternate, work from home routines. They ask, “Donon office mei ho, toh bacche ko ghar pe kaun dekh raha hai?” (Both of you are in office, who will take care of your kid?). We do have a nanny who takes care of Naira when we are at work.

Both our bosses in the Marketing Division and Pipelines Division have been very considerate of our issues. But we too think twice before putting up a request like this.

Love Will Keep Us TogetherFriends-turned-couple is a popular trope in romcoms. IOCians Rachita Tiwari, Asst. Manager (HR-CSR) and Pranshu Sachan, Asst. Manager (HR), Pipelines Division HO are living the dream. The two talk about their lives woven together by friendship, family and IndianOil

All in the Family


How did you manage during the COVID-19 lockdown? Rachita: It was pretty challenging since we aren't used to the idea of working from home. I guess, it also takes a little time to reconcile with the idea of creating your own working environment at home.

What’s a normal workday for both of you? Rachita: We get up by 6:30 am to wind up some chores before the kid is up. If she wakes up early, we have to tend to her. Pranshu: We both travel by different cars. Our offices are hardly five minutes apart, but it was a decision we had to take. In office, we hardly interact with each other, even though we sit on the same floor. Rachita: We try not to because then we get those funny looks. (Laughs)

There might be moments where you crave for your personal space...Rachita: All the time!Pranshu: We live vacation to vacation. But otherwise, I usually play cricket on weekends. Rachita: I go somewhere alone. It could even be a mall. I like to shop; it’s like my time out. We have set our way for having space — if one takes Saturday, the other takes Sunday.

What are the qualities you admire about each other?Rachita: Pranshu never says no to any task. He does everything with a smile on his face. It is a personal quality that has overlapped in a professional environment. I have seen his behaviour with his seniors, colleagues, juniors; he treats everyone equally. I have never seen his tone change even when there’s too much or too little work. Andar kya chal raha hai nahi pata (What's going on inside his mind is anyone’s guess).Pranshu: Rachita manages to pick up the profiles and portfolios across her jobs very quickly. With the COVID-19 pandemic, CSR was a completely new playing field for her, but she grasped it quickly. I also like that she is extremely straightforward. This is such a contrast to how I work.

Are there any drawbacks of working together in the same office?Rachita: We are in the same department and there is a little sense of competition. Pranshu has been working in this office longer than I have. So, I’ve to work doubly hard to be seen not just as his spouse but as someone with her own identity.Pranshu: Since we are in the same office, I think we miss that bit of space we had. Earlier we worked in different offices (Pipelines Head Office & NRO), so we had that liberty. Rachita: Office used to be a major part of our conversations. Now, that we are in the same building, the element of surprise is gone, since we know what’s happening in each other’s lives.

What do you spend some me-time outside of work?Pranshu: We make it a point to travel every three months. We also travel abroad every year for about two weeks. Rachita: We also love going to restaurants and trying various cuisines although it’s stopped now due to the pandemic. So far, we have explored 11 countries together, and some with our daughter in tow. We are looking forward to that once life returns to normalcy.

Media Bytes


IndianOil’s prolific tennis star Rohan Bopanna has a vision which resonates with IndianOil’s core values of Care and Passion. His tennis academy in Bengaluru is providing

training to players that is on par with countries that have a good infrastructure for the sport, reports Kamesh Srinivasan from The Sportstar. Some excerpts...

Rohan Bopanna, building tennis champions the right way at 40

Rohan Bopanna is a man on a mission. At 40, he

does not think much about his tennis career these days. With his personal goals taking the back seat, the 2017 French Open mixed doubles champion is focused on his academy at the Sports School in Bengaluru.

The goal is to groom champions who can go on to achieve a lot more than what Bopanna himself did for India — in addition to the Roland-Garros mixed doubles crown with Gabriela Dabrowski, he made the final of the 2010 US Open doubles with Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi. Then there were his heroics at the Davis Cup in 2010, where he played a decisive role in India’s triumph over Brazil, taking the country back to the World Group for the first time since 1998.

Life around the world may have gone haywire due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but it is a lively training session on the courts as one walks into the picturesque locale of the sports school deeply entrenched in nature.

There are familiar faces such as national men’s champion Niki Poonacha and women players Sharmadaa Balu and Sravya Shivani.

Having wound up the 2020 season, and undergone a few dozen COVID-19 tests in the US and Europe, Bopanna is happy to be back home guiding the players.

Chief coach Balachandran Manikkath explains the process and progress with regard to providing 60 scholarships to deserving candidates in different age groups. “Our focus is player development done systematically with professionals handling each role — training the players appropriate to their age and level, which will help them become good professional players,” he says.

Balachandran has tremendous experience in coaching, and he continues to guide the country’s no. 1 player, Prajnesh Gunneswaran.

For the academy, it was important to have a good start, and that was done through physical testing. “Strength and conditioning expert Cheston Pinto has been involved with the academy from Day One. We do musculoskeletal screening for every player when they join. We can measure the improvement periodically,” Balachandran explains.

But the academy is not aiming at unearthing Grand Slam champions straight away. “The vision is to develop tennis players the right way, as is done in different countries that have a good tennis structure,” Balachandran says. The idea is to have a lot of good players, competing hard and pushing each other at the local and national level to improve the overall standard.

Along with good training,

Rohan Bopanna with budding tennis players at his academy.


competition is key to growth. Bopanna has already planned to conduct events at the academy to find the missing link in the pathway to player development.

Balachandran is also keen on educating the coaches and, in fact, has been planning to introduce a three-month diploma course for coaches at the academy. “A good academy, apart from facilities, needs good coaches. That is why I ran an online training programme for the coaches, and did 27 sessions of an hour each. It was good motivation for the coaches,” he says.

“We have players of different calibres and levels. So, the players can train with those who are better than them and also those not as good as them,” Balachandran says.

Bopanna explains the anxiety of parents about their wards always training with better players. “If that is the logic, I cannot practise with anyone when I come to the academy. Then

who do (Rafael) Nadal, (Roger) Federer or (Novak) Djokovic train with? It does not work that way,” he says.

Bopanna, a former world no. 3 in doubles who narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal in mixed doubles in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 with Sania Mirza, understands the significant role parents play. He wants them to trust the process, discouraging them from coaching or building fear through a negative attitude.

Spacious locker rooms have been built for the boys and girls at the academy so they can soak in their own thoughts, away from any interference. Bopanna understands player requirements and is sensitive to their needs to bring out the best from each player.

After not being accepted by the Britannia Amritraj Tennis Academy in Chennai and not getting a scholarship to the Batra Tennis Centre run by Nandan Bal in Pune, Bopanna spent

five years training with Nandan and his team of coaches to build his professional career. Balachandran was one of the coaches at the Batra Centre, and Bopanna naturally has high respect for his three decades of experience.

“I used to cycle 15 km for tennis. I did it for four years. In the fifth year, my dad agreed to buy me a bike,” Bopanna recalls his hard journey. But the Coorg native concedes that he

missed out on ‘tennis-specific fitness’ in his formative years.

“In the juniors, you just focus on fundamentals, strength and movement. I had the game style to compete with the best, but was relatively slow on my feet,” he says.

Bopanna is quite positive about the talent of Indian kids and the abundance of knowledge in the country for training tennis players. The trick is to put everything together without looking at the whole exercise as a profitable business. Many do good business through tennis, but at the academy, Bopanna is far too committed to player development. There is certain clarity and a guarantee that the whole exercise will not be reduced to a simple business.

At the high-altitude centre, with players training on high bouncing balls, they work with a vision and purpose. Be assured, world-class tennis players can be made in India!

(From left) Cheston Pinto, Rohan Bopanna, Balachandran Manikkath and Sanjay Poddar.


Accolades

IndianOil earned multiple accolades at the Federation of Indian Petroleum

Industry (FIPI) Awards 2020 on January 29, 2021.

The Corporation, led by Mr. SM Vaidya, Chairman, won awards for the Team Innovator of the Year, Pipeline Transportation Company of the Year, and Digitally Advanced Company of the Year at the ceremony held in New Delhi.

Dr. SSV Ramakumar, Director (R&D) received the Team Innovator of the Year Award from Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, for development and successful commercialisation of high performance INDICAT Prime DHDT catalyst. The compositional and structural characteristics of this catalyst enable desired performance to produce BS-VI diesel. This is the first ever indigenous catalyst developed in India for deep desulphurisation of diesel.

Mr. AK Singh, then Director (Pipelines), received the Pipeline Transportation Company of the Year Award for IndianOil’s performance in pipeline operation through higher throughput and reduction in operating cost while ensuring safety and security of assets.

IndianOil was also honoured for adopting technologies in their core business domains. Mr. Sandeep Kumar Gupta, Director (Finance), received the award on IndianOil being adjudged the most Digitally Advanced Company of the Year.

IndianOil wins big at FIPI Oil & Gas Awards 2020

Dr. SSV Ramakumar, Director (R&D) received the Team Innovator of the Year Award.

Sandeep Kumar Gupta, Director (Finance), received the award for the most Digitally Advanced Company of the Year.

AK Singh, then Director (Pipelines), received the Pipeline Transportation Company of the Year Award.


Four teams from Gujarat Refinery presented Case Studies on HR and CSR at the third HR/

CSR QCFI (Quality Centre Forum of India) Virtual Convention at Vadodara. The CSR case study team comprising Ms. Ciny Mathew Philip, Chief Manager (CC & CSR); and Mr. NK Vankar, Manager (A&W); won the Diamond Trophy and third prize for their case studies on the Rainwater Harvesting project in Primary and Secondary government schools in Vadodara district; and Bio-filter wastewater treatment and purification plant at Chikodara Village. Mr. Kumar Jaivardhan, Manager (F&S); Ms. KU Gayatri, Manager (Contracts); and Ms. Akanksha Preeti, Sr. Officer (HR), bagged the Diamond Category Award for their case study presentation on COVID-19 Management.

Two teams comprising Mr. MP Gawande, Chief Manager (MS and L&D); Mr. Nikunj Jain, Manager (PS); and Mr. Vijender Kumar, Asst. Manager (L&D); Ms. Sanjana Saikia, Sr.

Gujarat Refinery teams win awards at QCFI HR/CSR Convention

Manager (ER); Ms. Yamini Modi, Asst. Manager (ER); and Ms. Priyanka Yadav, Sr. Officer (HR) bagged the Ruby Category awards for their presentations showcasing HR interventions in COVID-19 Care and Management; and Holistic Apprenticeship Online Learning and e-Swadhyaya Learning initiatives.

IndianOil received the 15th BML Munjal Award 2020 for Sustained Excellence. Mr. Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra,

Director (HR), accepted the award in a virtual ceremony on January 29, 2021. The award recognises IndianOil’s continuous efforts to engage with employees through learning opportunities and inspiring the workforce to pursue excellence even during the pandemic.

“This award is a testimony to the hard work of IOCians. The energy of IOCians to excel 24/7 has been instrumental in making IndianOil the Energy of India. Our core values were demonstrated aptly during the pandemic, as we went an extra mile to ensure that our on-field stakeholders are adequately protected,” said Mr. Mohapatra.

IndianOil wins BML Munjal Award 2020 for Sustained Excellence

Named after Hero Group founder, Dr. Brijmohan Lall Munjal, the award was presented by eminent scientist, innovator and Padma Vibhushan Mr. RA Mashelkar. Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal, Chairman, Hero Enterprise; and Mr. Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, were also present.


By Radhika S, Manager (CC), SRO

A stitch in time, saves four…

We’ve witnessed these stories on the big screen but S Murashavalli turned out to be a real life

hero. A heroic and timely deed from an IndianOil tank truck driver saved four lives.

On the wee hours of January 2, 2021, a car carrying a family of four — a married couple and their two children — travelling to Chennai from Anantpur met with an accident at KG Satram, near Nalagampalle village on NH-4, about 15 km away from the Chittoor Terminal.

The car hit the road median and toppled. Due to the intensity of the crash, the car rolled to the extreme left and hit an electrical transformer. The family was trapped inside the car, and as luck would have it, caught fire. They were calling out for help but no one came forward as the car was in contact with the electrical transformer.

Fortunately, an IndianOil tank truck driver,

Unsung Heroes

Braveheart IndianOil tank truck driver displays great courage and presence of mind in rescuing a family of four involved in a horrific accident

S Murashavalli happened to pass by on his way from Madenapalli to Chittoor Terminal. He halted his vehicle safely on the roadside and immediately rushed towards the toppled car. He wasted no time to get into action.

Showing immense presence of mind and utilising the basic fire-fighting skills imparted to him during his safety trainings at the Terminal, he took the fire extinguisher from his truck and battled the fire for 20 minutes. Murashavalli then broke the car’s window and pulled out the injured passengers, saving four lives.

Rescued with very minor injuries, the family was sent to the Government Hospital, Chittoor for treatment. As a token of appreciation for his bravery and spontaneous action, Murashavalli was recognised for displaying IndianOil’s core corporate value of Care, at the Chittoor Terminal on Republic Day 2021.

S Murashavalli; the damaged car and Murashavalli rescuing the passengers


IndianOil is an energy giant and that has served as a strategic advantage for us all these years. But being agile and leveraging opportunities swiftly is equally important to remain relevant in the fast-

changing business landscape. Restructuring of the retail teams has been initiated as a first step. More

such moves will be rolled out soon to empower the retail teams and help them focus on their core jobs. I invite ideas from you, especially our young teams, to further streamline the vertical and sharpen our

competitive edge.

The first month of the New Year ended with more happy tidings with the Company’s net profit climbing 62.4% in the third quarter compared to the same period last year. Our

petrochemicals vertical also gave us excellent margins. Besides other parameters, our debt to equity ratio also stood at a healthy 0.66:1. This

reflects our financial stability and our enhanced appetite for borrowings for the company’s future growth. We are now a nation on the move and

as the ‘Energy of India’, there’ll be abundant opportunities in the days ahead.

Watch Chairman discuss the latest happenings at IndianOil in this edition of Straight Talk.

Click to play video

Excerpts from Chairman's Straight Talk

I am happy to share with you that XP100 continues its steady cruise. All nine IndianOil Refineries are now ‘MS Octane 100 capable’ and the premium fuel is now available at 64 Retail Outlets across 33 cities. While

XP100 reiterates IndianOil’s downstream dominance, the customer feedback too has been very encouraging.

Straight Talk

https://iocl.com/uploads/ioclxpress/Chairman_Messages/Straight_Talk_by_Chairman/2021/Chairman_Straight_Talk_2021.mp4

38 | IndianOil NEWS | September 2019

Here’s a chance to win attractive prizes! This quiz will reveal if you have read this issue cover-to-cover.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?• Please click above to submit your answers• Last date to send in your entries – March 19, 2021

1 In which refinery did the Prime Minister lay the foundation stone for the Second Catalytic Iso-Dewaxing Unit?

6 In Leh, _______ is mixed with water to prevent it from freezing.

3 Who founded Shanthi Social Services (SSS), which runs an IndianOil fuel station, charitable hospital, and supports underprivileged students?

8 At which terminal was S Murashavalli recognised for displaying IndianOil’s core value of Care on Republic Day 2021?

5 How many students were selected for the 2020-21 Vidushi batch in Jaipur?

10 Name the eco-friendly windows which potentially cut down noise by 50%.

2 Mr. KJ Thomas decided to opt for solar power while working at __________.

7 In which city does IOCian tennis star Rohan Boppana have an academy?

4 This village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra had been drought and poverty affected for many years, between 1970 and 1990. Name it.

9 Name the visually-impaired para-athlete gearing up for the upcoming Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

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Karan Gupta (504125) AM (ER) Corporate Office

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Tushar Jain (514181) Sr. Officer (Finance) IOAOD SO

Prithwiraj Das (67018) Sr. Officer (Ops) Bijwasan Terminal

Shailesh Sharma (82835) Manager (IS) Mathura Refinery

TN Sunder Rajan (23761) GM (Fleet Marketing) Mktg. Div. HO

Nikhilesh Kumar Singh (512782) Sr. Officer (IS) Gujarat Refinery

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Documents

Your Responsibility Sustainabilityrime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the second Catalytic Iso-Dewaxing Unit at IndianOil’s Haldia Refinery on February 8,