Shell India

Shell India

Background The Royal Dutch Shell Group (‘Shell’) employs over 119,000 people worldwide and is a leading energy company in the world. Shell has five core businesses: Exploration and Production, Oil Products, Downstream Gas and Power, Chemicals and Renewables, with operations in more than 140 countries across the world. Shell registered revenues of US$ 268 billion in 2004, making it the fourth largest corporation in the world and with profits totalling US$ 18.18 billion, it is also the world’s second most profitable business. The Shell Group’s presence in India dates back about 75 years, when it began operations in the country as the pio pionee neerin ringg oil dis distri tribut bution ion com compan pany, y, thr throug ough h

UK COMPANIES IN INDIA PAGE 80

Burmah Shell in 1928, an alliance between the Burmah Oil Company and Asiatic Petroleum (India). Shell returned to India in 1993 with the incorporation of Bharat Shell, a 51:49 joint venture between Shell and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. In 1996, Shell India Private Limited, a 100 per cent Shell-owned company, was incorporated to oversee the development of businesses in petroleum, natural gas, petrochemicals and renewable energy. Shell’s present interests in India cover natural gas (LNG), LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), lubricants, solar energy and retail fuels. Shell is seeking to set up PMB plants in Bengal and Maharashtra to support the bitumen needs of a growing infrastructure sector in

India. Shell’s US$ 650 million Hazira Port and LNG Terminal, in Surat district, Gujarat, is regarded as a key FDI project, and is building critical gas infrastructure for India. Shell is the only international company to be granted Government of India approval for the retail fuels business in India. Shell has 9 registered companies in India.

Key Shell Companies in India

Steel Authority of India Limited, ONGC, the Jindal Group, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ford, Coal India Limited, Larsen & Toubro, Tamil Nadu Petro and Thermax. Pennzoil Quaker State – after global acquisition this

company is part of the Shell Lubricants business in India, manufacturing and marketing a range of branded lubricants focused on the automotive as against industrial sector, with significant OE supply relationships.

- The Shell Group has set up the US$ 650 million Hazira LNG importation and regassification terminal ahead of market. The company is developing a commercial model for the Hazira LNG terminal tailored to local needs, with an innovative balance of short and long-term supply contracts. Shell Hazira Gas

is a lubricants joint venture between Shell Overseas Investments B.V. - an affiliate of the Royal Dutch Shell Group - and BPCL. Bharat Shell has grown strongly and had a turnover in excess of US$ 54.34 million in the local lubricant market. The company has invested US$ 16.3 million in developing a state-of-the-art lube-oil blending plant at Taloja, outside Mumbai in western India. This is considered to be among the finest lube-oil blending plants in Asia. Bharat Shell Limited

Bharat Shell manufactures and markets a range of Shell-branded lubricants in India. Shell lubricants are available with over 20,000 Shell distributors and dealers, authorised service stations, workshops, select lubricant retail outlets, spare part shops and select BPCL retail outlets. Bharat Shell also services the demanding requirements of large industrial customers that include, amongst others, Tata Iron and Steel, TELCO, Maruti Udyog,

Shell Solar

is actively engaging in partnerships with

rural banks such as the Vysya Bank, Syndicate Bank, Canara Bank, the Nethravathi Grameen Bank and others, in order to facilitate finance options that match the cash inflows of the customer. These options, coupled with the quality of Shell’s solar panels and post-sales service, have made Shell Solar a trusted name in the rural and peri-urban solar market. Shell Solar has installed 20,000 lighting units in rural Karnataka, Kerala & Andhra Pradesh, contributing a fourth of Shell’s global rural solar installations. Shell Global Solutions

has been providing technical

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advice and services for Reliance Industries’ refinery at Jamnagar in Gujarat, since 1999. The company is expanding its footprint in India and has recently been given an extension of the Reliance licence.

in India. India is a priority market for Shell and it is seeking to build its portfolio in this market.

India is a priority market for Shell

Clear and consistent strategy

Shell invested in India as it saw great potential in the Indian market. The company perceived several advantages that India offered –

Shell has clearly identified India as a priority sector and perceives long term potential in the market. Whilst the pace of deregulation of the market has not been consistent, it has not weakened its focus or commitment over the years. It has in fact demonstrated its commitment by becoming one of the biggest foreign direct investors in India.

• Large market with strong growth prospects • Long standing relationship with MNC oil companies • Open society that accepts new products, ideas and practices The company was quick to leverage the investment opportunities that opened up post-liberalisation and in expectation of further de-regulation of the oil and gas sector. The Group’s committed investments, in different businesses in India, total about US$ 1 billion, making Shell one of the top foreign direct investors


Factors for Success

Adapted to Indian business environment Oil and gas being a regulated sector, the company had to understand and accordingly comply with numerous regulatory and procedural requirements. The company has, however, been quick to learn and adapt to the requirements, ensuring compliance.

The company has also recognised the diverse nature of the Indian market, particularly, that the country cannot be considered one homogeneous market. It has had to tailor its approach to the market suitably, taking local conditions and requirements into consideration.

• Base oils and additives, the two basic raw materials used in manufacturing lubricants, are procured either from Shell Refineries or global sources approved by Shell Research Centre. This gives it total control over raw material quality from source to the finished product.

Invested ahead of market development

• Products are formulated and tested as per Shell’s Lubricants Quality System.

Shell’s investments in India have been driven by the potential the company perceived in the market, and not necessarily by the current size. Since it has identified India as a growth market, it has been investing ahead of market development and is poised to reap the benefits as the market grows.

Sound relationships with government and industry bodies Shell has developed sound long-standing relationships with government and industry bodies. It has leveraged these relationships to put forth its views and hasten reforms in the sector.

• Production processes are fully automated, which ensures accurate measurement and dosing of ingredients. First-in-first-out inventory movement of packs is ensured through a computerised system.

Focus on marketing and distribution network While taking care to market its products to large industrial customers such as Tata Steel, Tata Motors, SKF, Steel Authority of India Limited and ONGC, Shell India has also ensured that its products are available at spare part shops, lubricant shops, authorised/ independent workshops and various retail outlets. In the rural market segment, Shell Solar has successfully

Best practices from Shell worldwide

delivered lighting solutions through 30 regional offices.

Shell has leveraged its international practices to develop its local businesses. An example is in the area of lubricant blending - its lube oil blending plant at Taloja is rated one of the best in Asia.

Shell’s retail stations are being modelled along

Shell India has taken the following initiatives to ensure quality in manufacturing, production and distribution:

international lines, with all of the retail innovations that have been the hallmark of Shell’s retail fuels business globally. Shell has already shared its best practices in this arena, via the demonstration sites it set up in India in response to the Government of India’s request in 1998-2000.


Best practice is not restricted to product quality and marketing, but also extended to health, safety, environment practices and social investments. Shell won the “Golden Peacock Award” for Eco Innovation in 2005, a recognition of its innovative best practices in environment and safety management. Shell companies in India have invested considerable resources in truck safety and promoting safe driving

practices. This continues to be a top priority across its businesses, including LPG.

Future Plans Shell’s focus in the short-to-medium term is expected to be on conso lidating and growing its exi sti ng businesses in India. Shell India has been granted permission to market transportation fuels in the country. Shell has been allowed to set up a network of 2000 petrol stations, which it is setting-up in a phased manner. For the moment, Shell is focused on developing its retail business via the organic route. Shell India has indicated that it would source petrol and diesel locally from MRPL for its upcoming stations and would use the importation option only if there were strong commercial reasons for doing so. Shell India is also developing its bitumen business, and a company has been incorporated for the purpose.


Shell is setting up manufacturing units for speciality bitumen (poly-modified bitumen) in view of India’s ongoing infrastructure development activities. The Shell Group identifies India as a large, potentially profitable market, and aspires to have a larger share in the coming years. Shell’s strategic investment and the policies adopted in business development have made Shell a preferred partner in India’s growth, well demonstrated by the successes achieved by Shell India in India’s energy sector.

Shell India: At a glance • Shell: World’s leading Energy Company. Fourth largest and second most profitable corporation in the world. US$ 268 billion revenues. US$ 18.18 billion profits. 119,000 employees worldwide • Shell in India: About 75 years in India. US$ 1 billion investments. Key Shell companies – Bharat Shell, Hazira LNG, Shell Solar, Shell India Marketing (for retail operations) • For Shell, India is: large, potentially profitable market with strong growth prospects • Factors for success: Clear and consistent strategy. Investment ahead of market. Best practices from Shell worldwide. Marketing and distribution. Adaptation to Indian business environment • Future plans, India: To grow existing business. To develop retail business. To increase investments


Shell India

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