Stress on close industry-academic link

OIL Commemorative  Celebration

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, April 26: Petro giant Oil India Limited (OIL) organized its 60 years Commemorative  Celebration as Industry Academia Conclave jointly with Gauhati University and SECONE Society in collaboration with Botanical Society of Assam in Guwahati on Thursday. The celebration was held at the BKB Auditorium in Gauhati University. While the welcome address was made by Chairman of SECONE Socity  PK Choudhury, Gauhat Universiy Vice Chancellor Mridul Hazarika rendered the inaugural address. Several other speakers also spoke on the occasion.

In his address, Vice Chancellor Mridul Hazarika said  that there a similarity between OIL and GU in the sense that OIL is a leader in the economic sector of the State, the GU is a the leading player in the State’s academic front. He went on to add that the OIL is playing a vital role in boosting the economy of the state and that in a like manner that the GU is committed to raise the State to new heights on the academic front. Hence, he observed that it is highly important that there is a close link between the two.

On his part, as the Chief Guest on the occasion, CMD of OIL Utpal Bora highlighted the performance of OIL over the years and has also spoken on the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) undertaken by OIL.

In the exploration and production arena, the CMD pointed out that OIL continues to step up exploratory, delineation and development drilling. He also referred to OIL’s high-tech interventions through Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) schemes, conversion of 2P reverses to 1P through Improved Oil Recovery (IOR) methods and optimal reservoir management. 

So far as the OIL’s CSR is concerned, the OIL chief pointed out that the company has been undertaking several CSR schemes in the education, healthcare, sanitation, livelihood generation, skill development and rural sports sector of Assam.

In the matter of link between industry and academics, the CMD said that while such links are a welcome move, the same is on a very weak footing in the North-east while in the rest of the country too it is not as sound as may be desired. He also said that the expectation of the people of Assam is very high in the matter of OIL, while pointing out in the same breath that such high expectation at times cause difficulty for the oil giant.

Two technical sessions were also held as a part of the celebration. The theme of the first session, chaired by Basanta Das, GM (retired),  BRPL, was ‘The role of Oil India Ltd in the growth of Assam’, while the second session focused on ‘Tehnology development , skill development and start ups in upstream petroleum sector’. The session was held with MP Bezbarah, Professor, Department of Economic, GU on the chair.