Energy is a basic requirement of mankind. Per capita energy consumption is an important indicator for determining the level of development of a nation. The global energy scenario is presently in a melting pot. The energy prices are very dynamic in nature; they are therefore a cause of concern and anxiety for the developing world. Oil and coal have been the mainstay of the traditional energy basket. Over the past two decades or so the Gas based fuels have evolved as a cleaner and environment-friendly alternative. But ultimately all these fossil fuels are limited and have to exhaust one day.

The talk gave insights into the geopolitics which has an effect on the international price of the crude. The strategic decisions being made by countries to attain their energy security and the Indian scenario, in particular, would be deliberated upon. Signs of times to come would be interpreted from the current market indicators.

Asish Thaplyal has more than twenty-six years of experience in Oil and Natural Gas Corporation. He is a BTech. (Chemical) and MBA (Finance). As a Deputy General Manager, he is heading the Technical Support Group of WSS, ONGC Ahmedabad. In his past assignments, he has been in-charge of Processing Crude Oil & Natural Gas at Mumbai High offshore installation. Mr Thaplyal is a domain expert in HSE, he is a certified Associate Environment Auditor (EARA, London) and an expert on International Safety Rating System. He is a keen academician, having presented several research papers at PETROTECH conferences. He is a faculty at ONGC Academy for mentoring the graduate engineering trainees as well as coaching the middle management. He is a Life Member of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE) and is the Secretary of Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) - India Section. Mr Thaplyal is instrumental in organizing the ‘Domain Expert Series lectures’ in various cities of India. He was amongst the select members of the Senior Management Programme in ONGC to visit and study the conventional as well as renewable energy scenario across Europe. This talk of his stems from the first-hand experiences gained from the study tour.