Vikram Khanna, CMO, CIO & COO-Architectural Institutional Businesses, AIS

India Advances Oil & Gas Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty

India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, has said the nation’s energy sector is advancing steadily despite global fuel market volatility, supported by significant reforms in the oil and gas industry.He noted that the country’s oil refining capacity has increased from 215 to 258 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA), with Jamnagar now hosting Asia’s largest refinery, exporting petroleum products to over 100 countries.In the upstream exploration segment, the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) Round 10 has unlocked 250,000 sq km for further exploration and produ..

Vizhinjam Port Phase 2 To Begin in September 2025

The Vizhinjam International Deepwater Seaport is set to commence its Phase 2 expansion in September 2025, with completion targeted for 2028. The second phase will increase the port’s annual container handling capacity to around 4.5 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) and introduce a break-bulk berth, a tanker berth, and a bunkering facility on an extended 4 km breakwater, according to The Hindu.Since starting commercial operations in December 2024, Vizhinjam port has handled nearly 1 million TEUs. It currently features an 800-metre-long container jetty capable of accommodating one co..

Maharashtra Clears 100 MW Hybrid Power Project

The Maharashtra government has approved the diversion of 4.90 hectares of reserved forest land for the development of a 100 MW hybrid renewable energy project at the Middle Vaitarna Dam in Palghar district.Combining 20 MW of hydroelectric power with 80 MW of floating solar capacity, the project is expected to generate around 208 million units of electricity annually. With this clearance, construction can now commence.Completed in 2014, the Middle Vaitarna Dam in Kochale village stands 102.4 metres high and stretches 565 metres in length, supplying 455 million litres of water daily—about 11 p..