New Delhi: The Indian Oil Officers’ Association has written to oil minister Hardeep Puri, seeking his intervention to scrap any proposal to abolish three director-level posts on the company’s board, arguing that the roles are critical to operational safety, innovation, and strategic growth.
“We are deeply concerned by media reports suggesting the possible abolition of the posts of director (pipelines), director (R&D), and director (planning & business development),” the association said in a letter to the minister, which has also been marked to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Indian Oil currently has seven positions of directors, each representing a function like finance, refineries, marketing, HR, or pipelines. These are in addition to the position of chairman and independent directors and government nominee directors.
The position of director (pipeline) has been vacant since last July. The association has urged the minister to fill this position, warning that prolonged vacancies or interim arrangements dilute accountability in a high-safety area.
“Dedicated directors heading pipelines, R&D, and planning & business development have ensured depth of expertise, strategic coherence, and accountable governance at the apex level,” the association said.
Indian Oil operates over 20,000 km of crude, product, LPG and gas pipelines, traversing 21 states and union territories. “A substantial portion of the network has been in service for decades and is now approaching or exceeding its original design life, necessitating continuous board-level oversight for integrity management, safety governance, emergency preparedness, and regulatory compliance,” the association said.
Highlighting the role of the company’s R&D division, the association said it has filed 1,866 patents, built the country’s largest petroleum-sector patent portfolio, and achieved commercialization ratios exceeding global averages. “Emerging areas like green hydrogen, carbon capture, advanced biofuels, nanotechnology, and energy transition technologies demand focused and empowered board-level guidance, which only a dedicated director (R&D) can provide,” it said.
