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Drilling for change: Raghav Jindal

Raghav Jindal, Non-Executive Director of Jindal Drilling & Industries

As the world’s fourth-largest energy consumer, India is a nation deeply dependent on its natural resources to fuel economic growth. As its reliance on oil and gas grew and the country attracted notable foreign investment, India demanded a steady supply of quality pipes, tubes and drilling equipment to aid the expansion.

Founded in 1989 and part of the DP Jindal Group Drilling Division, Jindal Drilling & Industries Limited (JDIL) is a leading provider of offshore drilling equipment for India’s booming oil and gas sector. Specialising also in horizontal and directional drilling and mud-logging services, the business is the first to provide a newly built offshore jackup rig dedicated to India’s pursuit of energy self-sufficiency. JDIL credits its 25 years of operational excellence to its accomplished workforce, which second-generation Managing Director Raghav Jindal sees as the business’ greatest investment.

Raghav Jindal, Non-Executive Director of Jindal Drilling & Industries
Raghav Jindal, Non-Executive Director of Jindal Drilling & Industries
According to the US Energy Information Administration, India will surpass China this year as the fastest-growing petroleum market in Asia, with fuel consumption rising 6% in 2018.

“We may be a young fleet, but our rigs are the most technically advanced to date. We try to retain every employee who joins us, so we put great emphasis on in-house development and training to make our people the best they can be. When we have a vacancy, we prefer to train and promote from within so our people can train the next generation of workers,” he notes. Known for his creative and progressive approach, Raghav is largely credited for the business’ steady growth and expansion in the oil and gas sector in recent years.

“It has been a tough couple of years in the oil and gas industry worldwide, with huge fluctuations in the crude prices and rising geopolitical tensions. One of our greatest challenges has been in managing costs along our supply chain. We have always aimed to help our suppliers just as much as they help us, while also keeping our safety and training standards high,” Raghav explains. “We conduct regular supplier development exercises, and always try to partner with local suppliers from India, as opposed to those from overseas.”

JDIL continues to distinguish itself from other service providers as a leading drilling contractor for quality of service, operational and safety performance, equipment suitability and availability, reputation, reliability and technical expertise. “Being a young company, all our technology and equipment is new, built from the latest and most advanced parts and materials. This allows us to deliver the best results for our contractors. We continually focus on enhancing our equipment and services to provide safer, more efficient and cost-effective operations.”

“The benefit of being a young company is that all our technology and equipment is new.”

Whether it’s in the domestic market or the international one, JDIL never compromises on quality. However, Raghav ensures that this pursuit of quality doesn’t mean a high production cost. In fact, JDIL has achieved international-level quality quotients by simply removing and modernising processes that unnecessarily waste resources. With a forward-thinking mindset, the company stands ahead of its competitors by working at lowest project cost with the least dependence on outside funding.

Looking ahead, JDIL’s mission is to become a globally reputed offshore drilling contractor and provider of related services in the oil and gas sector, with a dominant presence in India, East Asia and the Middle East. “The past couple of years have been predominantly focused on extensive expansion, and now it is time to focus on improving our offering and service to customers,” Raghav notes.

Raghav Jindal, Non-Executive Director of Jindal Drilling & Industries

According to India’s Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, the nation’s petroleum and natural gas sector attracted foreign direct investments worth US$6.86 billion between April 2000 and September 2017. Foreign investors will continue to have opportunities to invest in US$300 billion-worth of projects in India, as the country looks to cut reliance on oil imports by 10% by 2022.

“We are also looking to partner with other international drilling companies. Good partnerships can bring the beneficial exchange of resources and knowledge to better our technology offering.” Raghav explains that JDIL currently has future plans to build a technology centre of excellence to introduce cutting-edge technologies and foster skills enhancement. This plan for expansion and innovation goes hand in hand with JDIL’s commitment to safety and quality, all the while working towards a stronger oil and gas industry in India.

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