Source: Google

TDVS Gopalakrishna, ED, Refineries, IOCL, Paradeep.

TDVS Gopalakrishna is anchoring the next wave of growth who took over as the executive director of Indian Oil Corporation Limited(IOCL) owned Paradeep refinery in December 2018 is successfully leading the new crest of growth for the oil major.

When IOCL commissioned the 15 million tonne grassroots refinery at coastal Paradeep, it always had the potential and promise to be elevated to the next level.

Helming the refinery, Gopalakrishna(Anchoring the Next Wave of Growth) realized he had an enormous challenge to surmount.

Not only was the refinery’s capacity to be scaled up to 25 million tonnes per annum, but IOCL had also placed huge stakes on developing a state-of-the-art petrochemical complex to create and sustain a pulsating ecosystem for oil, chemicals and petrochemicals units- both upstream and downstream.

The dream to that massive expansion trail got the first major breakthrough when the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the apex body to endorse investments in the state recently gave its go-ahead to the expansion projects.

The HLCA approved two separate proposals by IOCL with an investment package adding up to in upwards of Rs one lakh crore.

IOCL has pledged a massive investment of Rs. one lakh crore to ramp up capacity of its coastal crude oil refinery at Paradip from 15 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 25 mtpa.

It also intends to put up a petrochemicals complex consisting of a dual feed cracker, naphtha cracker and petcoke gasification plant at Paradip.

Besides creating employment for 12,595 people, IOCL’s facilities will ensure the availability of building block feedstock to ancillary and downstream units in the chemical and petrochemicals sector.

The second investment from IOCL was the establishment of PX-PTA (purified terephthalic acid) with an investment of Rs 9136 crore in the existing crude oil refinery at Paradip.

IOCL has already invested Rs 35,000 crore on the refinery project. To fulfill the expansion plan and install all the envisaged units, IOCL has asked for around 4000 acres of land.

An IITian with an engineering degree in chemical engineering, Gopalakrishna has over 32 years’ experience in various positions at Guwahati Refinery, Refineries Headquarters, Corporate Office, Business Development, Panipat Refinery & Petrochemical Complex, and Paradip Refinery.

His experience includes technical services, operations, international trade, business development (gas), project management and petrochemicals. 

Prior to joining Paradip Refinery, he served as in-charge of Indian Oil’s largest petrochemical complex at Panipat.

“Gopalakrishna’s(Anchoring the Next Wave of Growth) leadership is important at this juncture as Paradip Refinery is looking forward to massive investments in coming years. The IOCL is planning to ramp up the Paradip Refinery capacity to 25 mmtpa from the present 15 MMTPA. It also plans for investments for up-gradation of MS/HSD to BS-VI quality MEG, PX-PTA, and Pet-coke gasification”, said a senior executive of the refinery.

Gopalakrishna’s(Anchoring the Next Wave of Growth) experience includes Technical Services, Operations, International Trade, Business Development (Gas), Project Management and Petrochemicals.

Prior to joining Paradip Refinery, he served as In-charge of Indian Oil’s largest Petrochemical Complex at Panipat.