Dear friends,

As you may be aware, I have joined  as the Director General (Hydrocarbons) on 12th June 2012. It is my pleasure and privilege to join India’s oil sector at a time when the country is witnessing huge demand of energy, particularly oil and gas. At present, we are able to meet only a part of this demand through indigenous production. The balance demand is being met through   imports. Whereas the demand of oil and gas has been increasing exponentially due to high growth rate of India’s economy, the availability   through indigenous   sources could not keep pace with the demand. Some success has been achieved in terms of potential  oil discoveries in Rajasthan areas under pre-NELP regime and also in terms of gas discoveries in the deep water areas of eastern offshore like K G basin in post NELP era.

The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons  was established with the objective of promoting sound management of Indian petroleum and natural gas resources with due  regard for environment, technological and economic aspects of the activity. Later it was assigned the responsibilities relating to implementation of NELP and CBM policies as also the Contract Monitoring on behalf of Government. The role of DGH is therefore crucial to the overall development of oil and gas sector, more so because  all the acreages  are now awarded on globally  competitive basis. We are determined to ensure that DGH performs its desired role in most professional and transparent  manner leading  to  the desired impact on the E&P sector to yield  tangible results.

My immediate focus in the coming few months would be:
(i) To Strengthen DGH as an “Institution” of repute in terms of infrastructure, manpower and organizational framework.
(ii) Develop in-house technical competence at par with the industry in all areas of E&P activities like exploration, development, production, reservoir management, environment  management, legal and financial aspects.
(iii) To develop a monitoring mechanism for the  existing PSC regime in relation to decision/approval  process,  time lines, accountability, cost recovery aspects   etc so as to ensure smooth conduct of business by the operators and companies.
(iv) To create a positive framework for the staff and officers in order to get desired productivity.
(v) To identify other areas which may need management’s greater  attention to improve  the working of DGH.

Initially I am beginning with these  objectives to be followed  by  broader tasks  to  address  country’s hydrocarbon energy availability concerns  to the best of my abilities. I have full faith in my team in DGH and I am sure to get required support from all the stakeholders to fulfil the task I have been assigned .

With best wishes,
R.N.Choubey
Director General