In a significant development announced on Wednesday, Alok Sharma has taken charge as the Director of Research & Development at Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). Prior to his current role, Sharma served as the Executive Director at the Centre for High Technology under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).
Sharma, a postgraduate engineer in Chemical Engineering from IIT-Delhi and a graduate from Gujarat University, brings a wealth of experience to his new position. His previous responsibilities included overseeing refining, petrochemical, and alternative initiatives for the pan-Indian oil and gas industry.
Notable milestones in Sharma’s career at Indian Oil include playing a pivotal role in establishing India’s first hydrocracker Unit at Gujarat Refinery, as well as the Hydroprocessing lab and Resid Block at the R&D center. Demonstrating a visionary approach, Sharma led research and development efforts in hydrogen, gasification, solar, CO2 capture, and energy storage technologies, aligning with Indian Oil’s ambitions in alternative energy.
Among his achievements are the successful development of compact reforming HCNG solutions, co-processing of non-edible oils in refineries, conducting the nation’s first HCNG trials in Delhi, and contributing to fuel cell and green hydrogen initiatives. Sharma has also played a crucial role in advancements related to carbon capture and ethanol technologies.
Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Sharma represents the oil and gas sector on various committees of NITI Aayog, MNRE, DST, and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. He holds memberships in prestigious international organizations such as the International Association of Hydrogen Energy (IAHE) and is a founder member of the Hydrogen Association of India (HAI).
