Staff Reporter
Guwahati: The earlier decision to relocate Oil India Limited (OIL)’s Headquarter or Corporate Office to Guwahati has since been reviewed, and it will continue to operate from NCR-Noida, where it is presently located. After the Baghjan oil well blowout incident, the Committee on Public Undertakings of the Lok Sabha had recommended the shifting of OIL’s corporate office to Guwahati, and the Assam government had even allotted a plot of land for the office.
The decision to not relocate OIL’s corporate office to Guwahati was revealed in the Eighth Report of the Lok Sabha’s Committee on Public Undertakings, which was tabled in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the recently concluded winter session of Parliament.
It should be noted that the Committee in their earlier Report had observed and recommended as follows: “The Committee notes that OIL had an operational Corporate Office (CO) earlier at New Delhi from 1981 and thereafter at Noida from 2007-08 and the Registered Office (RO) and Field Head Quarter (FHQ) at Duliajan in Assam. Additionally, the Company also has a Pipeline Headquarter (PHQ) at Guwahati. It is learnt that after the Baghjan blow-out incident, OIL was asked to relocate its Headquarter/Corporate Office to Guwahati to increase the operational and execution capability, have close supervision and oversight of its operation in the Northeast, and make active interaction with the state government and local community. Consequently, the Government of Assam allotted a plot of land in Guwahati for setting up the office, and the foundation stone has been laid in June, 2022.”
“In this context, the Committee also notes that apart from North-East States, OIL’s Domestic Acreage (Operated) spreads to five other states/UTs in the country and 10 projects in seven other countries. Moreover, as part of its diversification strategy, it has taken up the projects of City Gas Distribution (CGD) business in the states of Haryana and Maharashtra. The Committee notes that as a reputed E&P Company, OIL, having its base and maximum production (the Company during 2021-22 made 99% of its crude oil production and 90.58% gas production) from the state of Assam, has proved its mettle with the existing set-up of Corporate Office-Headquarter set-up at NCR (Noida)-Dulaijan combination acting as an important link in coordination, prompt decision-making, and linking of North-East with the Ministry’s Headquarter in New Delhi. The Committee, therefore, opines that the present land allotted in Guwahati to OIL may be developed and strengthened by positioning key board members having E&P expertise to supervise and look after the operations and business in Northeast states, which may act as an important link between Dulaijan, Assam (RO and FHQ), and Noida. The Committee, therefore, in view of OIL’s pan-India and global presence, desires that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) may review their earlier decision of shifting Corporate Office to Assam. This will help OIL in improving their business and give an opportunity to interact with all concerned conveniently in the quickest possible time.”
Following this, the Ministry (MoPNG), in their action-taken reply, stated, “The earlier decision of relocating OIL’s Headquarter/Corporate Office to Guwahati has since been reviewed, and the Competent Authority has approved the continuation of OIL’s existing Headquarter/Corporate Office at Noida and not to relocate the office to Guwahati. Compliant with observations and being a Maharatna CPSE, now OIL has redefined its vision as an integrated company with a business outlook to engage actively in E&P activity pan-India, including offshore exploration efforts.”
In view of the above, OIL has now revisited the earlier approach and is planning to develop an OIL complex at Guwahati comprising the following facilities: State-of-the-art training institute for OIL’s executives and employees; a Centre of Excellence for Energy Studies’ (CoEES), which will facilitate innovative studies in the Energy Domain including E&P; a Skill Development Institute (SDI) for the benefit of youths of the entire NE region with a residential facility.
For development of the OIL complex in Guwahati, the Ministry further stated, “Preparation of revised building design, including site investigation, if any, for above facilities is being planned, and on finalization of the same, construction of the complex will be taken up by OIL.”
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