GAIL (India) Limited, a leading natural gas company of India, received top honors as the “Downstream Operation of Year” when the 2011 Platts Global Energy Awards were unveiled tonight at a gala dinner in New York. GAIL was the only one of the Indian finalists in Platts’ prestigious awards program that landed in the winner’s circle this year.
Facing stiff competition in the “Downstream Operations” category, GAIL was recognized for achieving year-on-year growth, ensuring uninterrupted availability of gas to customers, expanding pipeline infrastructure and making overall contributions to the country’s growth. In particular, Platts’ independent panel of judges commended GAIL’s imaginative plans to tap urban landfills as a new source of natural gas and to conduct a pilot program in partnership with the municipality of Delhi to extract landfill gas. They noted that this project, if successful, could be replicated across India.
“GAIL is working to meet the challenge of fueling the world’s second-most-populous nation in an environmentally sustainable manner and is to be congratulated for its vision and accomplishments,” said Vandana Hari, Platts Editorial Director, Asia. "It's bound to be an uphill battle in the coming years for energy suppliers and distributors, given that India's energy demand is always running ahead of domestic supplies and infrastructure, but GAIL is well positioned to capture the opportunity, if it continues to ratchet up its efforts," said Vandana Hari, Platts Editorial Director, Asia.
Of the 21 companies and individuals from seven countries recognized for Platts Global Energy Awards, GAIL was the only Asia-based winner. With the majority of the Awards going to firms from the Americas, Brazil scored high with oil and gas major Petrobras taking both “Energy Producer of the Year” and “Energy Company of the Year” awards and Braskem, a top diversified petrochemicals producer, was bestowed “Petrochemical and Blendstock Innovation Award.” This year’s highly sought-after “CEO of the Year Award” went to Andrew Liveris, president, chairman and CEO of Dow Chemical, for both his leadership and vision as the company’s leader and his long-standing commitment to public service.
While GAIL was the only Indian firm to win a Platts Global Energy Award this year, the following Indian companies made the finalists’ list, which was announced in September:
Nearly 500 energy executives from around the world walked the red carpet to attend the annual black-tie event often described as the “Oscars” of energy. The Platts Global Energy Awards, now in their 13th year, recognize exemplary corporate and individual achievement, innovation and leadership, and low-carbon energy sustainability initiatives.
For a full list of this year’s winners, visit the Platts Global Energy Awards website.
