Synergyvol 2 issue2

SYNERGY The Excellence Platform Vol. 2, Issue 2, 2005
OIL Beyond
Territorial
OIL's Vision
Barriers
To be a vibrant, responsive, knowledge based competitive E &P Company with global presence, and a
selective presence across the oil and gas value chain in India, maximizing shareholders' value,
respecting stakeholders' aspirations and caring for the environment.

OIL beyond territorial barriers
I am OIL. An ever-improving,
ever-evolving organic entity.
Perseverance is my first name,
Diligence - my surname.
I harbour camaraderie.
I value ethics.
I envisage a future.
A future, when the world
will be my playground and
territorial boundaries will have
no meaning.
C O N T E N T S
Merger and Acquisition for Synergy in
Petroleum Business.....................................2
by Mr. J. M. B. Baruah
Team Synergy
Mr. R.K. Dutta - Patron
Mr. Arvind Jaini - Editor
Ms. Krishna Hazarika Rao - Sub Editor
Merger and Acquisition in Oil Sector............8
by Mr. Jauhari Lal
Public Sector Stays Ahead, Earns More &
Contributes.................................................16
by Dr. S. M. Dewan
Some extracts from old Synergy..................19
Future Strategy for Energy Security..............24
by Mr. Swadhin Hazarika
The Calf Beaten Path..................................26
by Mr. M. A. Niphi
"Corporate Branding" driving force in a
market driven mechanism...........................28
by Mr. Tridiv Hazarika

With best wishes
Arvind Jaini
Editorial
1
Welcome once again to the second issue of "Synergy". Poised as we are at a very interesting and phenomenal stage of
our evolvement as a reckonable entity, both as a company and as an industry, it was with immense awe that we have
seen significant event after event unfold at a blistering pace since we last went into print.
A global "energy demand shock"compounded by extremely tight world oil supplies, constraints on world natural gas
production, and geopolitical turmoil is now putting even countries like United States at a "critical juncture" in its
energy position.
The solution to looming Energy problems and solutions being sought will undoubtedly involve intensifying
exploratory efforts, promoting international cooperation, maintaining a strong domestic industry, and more
realistically appraising energy reserves, environmental goals, technological potential and geopolitical limitations.
The world's consumption of oil is likely to increase over the next two decades by more than 40 percent. Population
and social change in India and China and in the Middle East are doing much to drive today's high oil prices. Economic
growth in India and China, as well as in the United States, is contributing to a demand shock on the oil market. What
looks like the best global economic growth in a generation is creating specific pressure on energy markets.
There have been enough reports and articles in the media on the move to restructure the Petroleum Sector in the
country to strengthen the industry, ensure Oil security, meet future challenges and also realize "Synergy in Energy".
Where do we see ourselves two years, five years and ten years from now? Where does our vision lead us? Are we
prepared and equipped for it? Are we 'keeping our powder dry' or will we allow events to overtake us as we grapple
with change.
In this issue we have covered articles from Mergers, Innovations, Management issues etc., for our readers. I convey my
sincere thanks to our CMD, Shri R K Dutta for his trust and guidance. I also like to thank Mrs Krishna Hazarika Rao for
her efforts in bringing out this volume. I would also like to thank all the Authors for their contribution in this issue.
I leave you to mull over with these thought provoking 'magic seeds' as we embark upon the next phase of our journey
in pursuit of our dreams while we shape our destiny. Till then "Happy Reading"!

Merger and Acquisition for Synergy in Petroleum Business
BACK-GROUND
Shri J. M. B. Baruah, a Petroleum and Management
Consultant, was the Chairman and Managing Director of
Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. He was also the
Director (Exploration and Development), Oil India Limited,
and former Managing Director of Prize Petroleum Co. Ltd.
For about three decades, I was closely associated with Oil
India Limited as an employee in various capacities. I was
naturally delighted when I got an opportunity to share
some of my thoughts on certain aspects of future growth
potential of the company through the pages
of SYNERGY.
As I have been, by and large, out of touch
with the thinking of the corporate level
management of the company for a fairly
long time; some of the views expressed here
may naturally be out of tune with the current
management thinking in the company. It is
needless to mention that the perspective
provided by my own work exposure outside
Oil India Limited during last decade has
largely influenced my thought process.
PETROLEUM VALUE CHAIN
We would now proceed to look at what merger and
acquisition could mean to a mid-sized financially sound
up-stream oil company like Oil India Limited. But before
doing so let us first look at what constitute the value chain
in the petroleum business.
The composite petroleum value chain has four individual
value chains as indicated below:
•
•
Up-stream Value Chain
Down-stream Value Chain
•
•
Natural Gas Value Chain
Chemicals Value Chain
The relationship amongst these value chains is explained
in figure 1 below :
Down-stream
Value Chain
Up-stream Value Chain
The segments of the up-stream value chain are
exploration, appraisal of a discovery, development of oil /
gas fields, production of oil and gas, storage and
transportation of crude oil and distribution of natural gas.
Down-stream Value Chain
The typical down-stream value chain comprises of
refining of crude oil, primary distribution of petroleum
products, storage in terminals, and marketing of
2
By J. M . BUJOR BARUAH
Figure 1 : Segments of Petroleum Value Chain
Up-stream
Value Chain
Natural Gas
Value Chain
RESE
R
VES
Chemicals
Value
Chain
MARKE
TS

An analysis of the information tabulated above would
make it clear that sales revenue is much higher in the
down-stream business, while profit is much higher in the
up-stream business
It would be of interest to note here that capital investment
is comparatively high in the up-stream business.
However, the Return On Capital (ROC) is also much
higher in the case of the up-stream business as would be
evident from the following example:
3
Business Capital Return On
Segment Employed Capital
Up-stream 45 % 17 %
Down-stream 35 % 6 %
Chemicals 20 % 10 %
UP-STREAM INDEPENDENTS
The up-stream business is far more risky. In addition to
uncertainties with regard to underground reserves and
production rates, E & P business is heavily dependent upon
crude oil price, which fluctuates widely and does not
follow typical market dynamics of demand - supply. Some
of the factors contributing to price volatility of crude oil are
areas of excess production being away from the areas of
large consumption, excessive dependance on the OPEC
countries for supply, concentration of surplus availability in
localized areas, wars / hostilities and other potential
political changes / uncertainties in major oil producing
areas like west Asia. Of late, sharp increase in the demand
for oil in the rapidly growing large economies of China and
India has greatly reduced the surplus availability of crude
oil. As a result, temporary shut-down of producing fields
even outside the OPEC results in a near panic situation
resulting in over-heating of the market.
Asset values of an E & P company should ideally include
all the assets that the company owns. Typically, these
would include the producing fields, fields under
development, discoveries under appraisal, new
discoveries and exploration acreage. From the angle of
risk and cash flow potential, the asset values may be
classified as core values and upside potentials. The core
values include producing fields and fields under
development. Upside potential is far less certain and
petroleum products including pricing, distribution to bulk
consumers and retailing .
Natural Gas Value Chain
Unlike crude oil, natural gas could be sold in the retail
market directly. Natural gas is also extensively used for
generation of electricity. Natural gas value chain comprises
of transportation (by pipeline or as LNG), marketing as gas,
and generation / sale of electricity. Besides these uses as
energy, natural gas value chain includes the fractionation
of natural gas into various components like methane,
ethane, LPG, natural gas liquids, etc. Some of these
fractions are valuable and preferred raw materials for the
petrochemicals value chain.
Chemicals Value Chain
Chemicals value chain starts with processing of naphtha
obtained as a crude oil refinery product and selected
fractions of natural gas for the production of various value
added chemicals. The major petrochemicals value sub-chains
relate to plastics, fabrics and organic chemicals.
Each of these sub-chains are long with several branches
and will not be discussed here.
INTERNATIONAL OIL MAJORS
Most of the internationally competitive major oil
companies are vertically integrated with business
interests along the entire petroleum value chain. Break-up
of gross revenue and earnings of an oil major for two years
during the relatively stable price regime of 1990s are
shown below as an illustration.
Year Business Sales Earnings Capital
Segment Investment
X Up-stream
(including
Natural Gas) 6.9 % 66.3 % 53.6 %
Down-stream 79.2 % 14.9 % 24.2 %
Chemicals 13.9 % 18.8 % 22.1 %
Y Up-stream
(including
Natural Gas) 6.0 % 42.6 % 49.4 %
Down-stream 79.4 % 33.6 % 36.8 %
Chemicals 14.6 % 23.8 % 13.8 %

companies are eager to acquire an up-stream company to
translate their expansion plans by migrating to a value
chain with higher return potential.
Various arguments are often put forward in favour of
vertical integration of oil companies. Out of these, three
important arguments are:
it would reduce volatility of earnings in the case of up-stream
companies.
it would improve security of supply in the case of
down-stream companies.
it would improve utilization of logistics assets.
•
•
•
Another reason as to why a refiner would seek vertical
integration is that, integration could lower investment
costs in refining by allowing refiners to optimize their
operations around a known fixed crude oil system.
While the securities of raw material
supply in a process industry is very
critical for its survival as a business entity.
Volatility of crude oil price on an E & P
company is not very critical as
profitability of the company could be
reasonably managed even at the time of
low crude oil price by cutting down the
exploration expenditure, and under
special circumstances, by pruning
development expenditures and shutting
down the marginal fields. The temporary
shortfall in crude availability from these
measures would result in bounce back of
the crude oil price. Utilization of logistics assets is true
only in special cases. In any case, available infrastructures
of different oil companies in the same area could be
shared through contractual arrangements. It is quite
common for the user to pay a tariff to the owner of such
infrastructures if the same is cost-effective.
If we look around the globe, we will find that most of the
oil companies are either integrated oil companies or
independent E & P oil companies. Accordingly, the
Government of India started encouraging the down-stream
oil companies to move to up-stream activities in
the 1990s. However, the results so far have not been very
encouraging. This was not unexpected, as the down-stream
oil companies have tried to build up their own
competencies in the complex up-stream business, which
is time-consuming .
includes the contingent resources that may be currently
un-economical or the discoveries whose commercial
viability has not yet been determined as well as the value
of the exploration prospects to be drilled by the company.
It is needless to state while determining the asset value of
the company that the risk-weighted values are to be taken
into account.
Against this background, E & P business is highly capital
intensive. Moreover, the time required for exploration,
appraisal of a discovery, development of fields considered
as commercial and build-up of the surface facilities for
production, processing, storage and transportation is
usually very large as new large discoveries are likely to be
located in hostile and far flung areas. By the time
production from the new areas becomes available, the
fields already in production would start to decline.
Globally, the independent
up-stream oil companies tend
to generate internal growth
in their value through
acquisition of assets with
core value and portfolio
management through
swapping of assets.
M E R G E R S A N D
A C Q U I S I T I O N S :
PERSPECTIVES
For growth of enterprise
value, the oil companies would normally try to expand
the business within the existing value chain, where
adequate core competency exists. Moreover, in order to
improve the bottom line, the down-stream companies
would like to diversify into chemicals business and up-stream
4
business, where the return on capital are higher
than in refining & marketing business .
As the business dynamics of the petrochemicals business
is comparable to that of the refining and marketing
business, expansion of business of the down-stream
companies by diversifying into the chemicals business
comes naturally. However, the core competencies
required for the E&P business are significantly different
from those of the refining and marketing segment of the
petroleum value chain. Therefore, the down-stream

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS:
PROCESSES
Acquisition could be acquiring an
asset or acquiring stocks in a
company. The latter could be with
management control or without
management control. An acquired
asset could be managed by the
acquiring company as a division or
as a subsidiary. Similarly, an
acquired company could be
managed either as a separate entity
or it could be merged with the
acquirer by consolidating the
accounts. In the later event, the
acquired company loses its identity.
The share holders of the acquired
company are offered equity shares in
the acquiring company as per ratios
mutually agreed upon.
Acquisition of an asset or a company stock has a cost
attached to it. Therefore, acquisition makes sense to the
acquirer only when it can add value to the acquired entity
through injection of fresh capital and technology, resulting
in modernization of plants and machineries, or through
improved management including organizational
re-structuring or more often by synergizing the operations
of the acquired entity with those of the
acquired company.
For expansion in the same business
segment, one of the means is through
fresh capital investment. For an E & P
company like Oil India Limited, this
means bidding for exploration blocks
and going through the entire activity
chain consisting of geological
analysis, geophysical surveys,
exploratory drilling, appraisal of
d i s c o v e r y , p r e p a r a t i o n o f
development plan, development drilling and creation of
surface facilities before production and revenue
generation starts. The long chain
of activities normally takes 7 years
or more. In addition, there is the
risk of several of the exploration
ventures being a failure.
To cut short this time span and also
to reduce the risk, the E & P
companies seeking growth in the
same business segment resorts to
M & A activities of acquiring
discovered fields awaiting
development or producing
properties. This also provides an
opportunity to the oil company of
diversifying the locations of the
acreage held by it to spread the
overall risk (eg. political risk).
It is needless to state that such a
business strategy of expediting
growth would need availability of excess cash. The
company would need to create what is called a `war
chest' for acquisition. It is because trying to raise money
from the capital market as equity or debt at the time of
acquisition could be self-defeating on several counts. For
example, tight time schedule for acquisition may not
permit a judicious choice of funding options. Information
on the entity to be acquired including its valuation may
get circulated before the submission
of the final binding bid to the
advantage of the competitor. Once
the buyer-seller agreement is final,
capital could be raised from the
market to complete the transaction
and the war chest could be kept
intact or replenished for future
acquisitions.
While considering an E & P
acquisition, the acquirer must take
into account the up-side potential
of the entity. The up-side potential could be additional
reserves accretion from extension of the productive limit
5

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS: MECHANISM
6
proactive and be in communication with advisors who
are in the business of providing advisory services to the
sellers.
After an acquisition target is identified, several important
steps are to be taken either simultaneously or in quick
succession as outlined below in figure 2.
SYNERGY FROM MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
Generally speaking, potential sources of synergy in
mergers and acquisitions are in competitive advantage in
the existing business, expansion into new business, and in
financial benefits to the merged entity.
C o m p e t i t i v e
advantages in existing
business are achieved
through horizontal
mergers. It helps in
achieving economies
of scale, restricting
competition and in
indulging in anti-competitive
practices.
Vertical mergers on
the other hand, make
supplies more difficult
for the competitors.
W h e n t h e r e i s
Negotiation of
Buyer-Seller
Agreement
shortage in the market, profitability improves. When the
market has over supply, merger could help in
re-structuring, whereby the economically less viable
assets / projects could be disposed of or kept in abeyance.
Entry to a new business or market through mergers is very
common. It is because entry to a new business or market
through merger is relatively quick. It also has lower risk than
direct entry. Sometimes, M & A is also the cheaper route.
The basic idea of M & A is to exploit the distinctive
capabilities of the acquired company and to get
possession of its strategic assets. Vertical integration
through mergers and acquisitions has a greater chance of
success if the original core competencies of the merged
companies are complementary.
of the known field, shallower or deeper prospects within
the known limit of the field, scopes for re-development for
enhancing recovery of the existing field, and / or
discovery of new field within the lease area based on a
fresh evaluation of the prospects. These relatively high
risk components do not form part of the standard
valuation of the assets as only proved and probable
reserves are normally taken into account in these
exercises.
In the international arena, mergers and acquisitions
normally take place through direct negotiations between
buyer and seller, or
through the process
of international
bidding. In cases
where the bidding
process is chosen
by the seller, bids
are invited from the
prospective buyers
by the financial
advisors appointed
by the seller. It is
only in very special
cases that the
a d v i s o r s a r e
appointed by the buyers to look for specific acquisition
targets.
In the E & P business, where acquisition of assets is very
common, there are a few agencies, who provides scouting
services based on analysis of various companies. Also,
mergers of large international companies often result in
disposal of assets to rationalize portfolio as a part of M & A
deals and such information is usually available with the
scouting agencies.
Once a company is aggressively engaged in M & A
activities in the market, it is quite common to be listed by
the financial advisors of the sellers as potential buyers,
and information do flow in easily. Until such a reputation
is established, it is necessary for the acquirers to be
Signing of Buyer-
Seller Agreement
Transaction
Hand-over /
Take-over
Appointment of
Financial Advisor
Appointment of
Teams for Technical,
Financial,
Commercial and
Legal Due Diligence
Conduct of Due
Diligence of
Company / Assets
to be acquired
Valuation of Asset /
Company
Approvals
Submission of Bid
Figure 2 : Important Steps is an M&A Deal

7
Diversification of assets' location and business segments
achieved through mergers, result in lowering the overall
business risk. Many believe that this benefits the share
holders as the cost of capital reduces with the lowering of
the business risk.
Raising capital in larger blocks for increased activities /
expenditures of the merged entity could also result in
reduced transaction costs and this factor could also lower
the cost of capital. Some of the other financial benefits of
M & A are the exploitation of unutilized debt capacity and
unutilized tax credits leading to
synergy.
Normally the stock price of the
acquired company increases after
an acquisition. However, this
increase may be at the cost of share
price of the acquirer. When this
happens, the two entities are often
merged, whereby one company
ceases to exist. However, the value
of the merged entity could still be
lower than the values of individual
entities prior to acquisition. In such
a case, the M & A may be
considered as a failure.
Analysis of mergers and acquisitions
worldwide has shown that at least
half of all the M & As are failures.
This is primarily because synergy of
business / operation could not be
established after the mergers.
Another very important reason of failure of mergers is
divergent work systems, ethics and cultures of the
individual entities. Some times, it takes decades before an
effective amalgamation of company cultures and value
systems take place. Another important reason of failure of
M & A is inadequate or faulty due diligence.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
In addition to being a financially sound independent oil
company with core competency in the conventional
up-stream value chain, Oil India Limited has the unique
distinction of being fully integrated in the up-stream
business with core competencies in conducting various
oil-field services activities like seismic surveys, drilling,
well completion, well logging, data processing, etc.,
which are normally out-sourced by the oil companies. In
order to ensure fast growth and value creation, the
company could look into the possibilities of strengthening
the entire up-stream value chain including the oil-field
services business through the M & A route conducted on a
global scale.
As far as growth in other petroleum
value chains is concerned, the
company may consider expanding
along the natural gas value chain,
where it has some core
competencies. This would include
acquisition of gasfields, and
diversifying into gas transportation
and distribution business through
pipeline and LNG business. The
next obvious step of diversification
would be to participate in the gas-based
petrochemicals value chain.
These diversifications would
adequately protect the company
from wide fluctuations in crude oil
price.
Merger with another oil company
with core competency limited to
the down-stream business of the
petroleum value chain may in fact
slow down investment in the E & P business on account of
generally poor risk taking abilities of the oil companies
engaged in refining and marketing. This would be an
additional factor to the divergence in work cultures and
work systems. For diversification of down-stream
companies to improve securities of supply of crude oil,
the obvious route is to have alliances including un-incorporated
joint ventures with one or more up-stream
oil companies and acquire oilfields having crude oil
suitable for processing in its existing refineries.

Merger and Acquisition in oil sector-MRPL Experience
8
Dr. Jauhari Lal Secretary General PETROTECH
Dr. Jauhari Lal is at present the Secretary General of
Petrotech Society. Dr. Jauhari Lal was Former Director
(Personnel), OIL. He was also Director (HR) ONGC,
Director ONGC Videsh Ltd and National President of NIPM.
He is a visiting professor in IIM-L, MDI & other Management
institutions.
Until the 1990s, global M & A was predominantly an
Anglo Saxon phenomenon. Thanks to globalization that
M & A has crossed boundaries & it has become its integral
part. During 1990-2000 era, mega deals became routine
with the cost synergies, globalization & strategic
considerations as key driving force. In the era of
competition, it is believed that giant size of the company
will have an advantage of endurance, taking risk and
emerging as long time player. Some of the patterns for M &
A wave coincided with low falling interest rates, rising
stock markets & growing economy. According to Bruce
Wasserstein, the main drivers for M & A phenomenon are:
• Regulatory and political reform
• Technology Change
• Fluctuations in financial markets
• Role of leadership
• Tension between scale and focus
The question arises, "Whether M & A will pay in the long
run?" As per the analysis made, from a shareholder value
point of view, success rate is generally low & sometimes
as low as 25-30% of acquiring companies. This situation
is, at times, because of over-estimation of potential
benefits in the long run & under-estimation of inherent
integration difficulties because of culture and HR related
issues. However, every CEO thinks that his deal would
make it a great success and enamoured by the
consideration to create an impact and make history. In
this endeavor, investment of time, energy and finance is
made from longterm return point of view. But, generally it
takes a long time to achieve desired results. Nevertheless
M & A has emerged as an extremely important tool in
strategic armoury of global companies.
Hydrocarbon is strategic sector & it has also been affected
by M & A trends globally. There has been trend for
massive consolidation leading to merger of oil giants into
"super majors". Between 1997-2002 as many as, 34 oil
companies merged into 13 companies. There has also
been a trend that M & A actively increase during the
periods of falling oil prices. And this trend is going on
rather aggressively.
Some of the key drivers in oil Industry mergers are: -
• Pressure to globalize & become a giant company.
• Larger balance sheet size & strength to bid for
exploration rights and undertake large risky
investments.
• Enhance vertical integration
• Technology acquisition
• Self-reinforcing phenomenon
• Acquisition of companies with proven reserves
during periods of decline in oil prices in lieu of
exploration.

ONGC, HPCL, BPCL & GAIL. It is also noteworthy that
two 500 fortune companies belong to Oil Sector i.e. IOC
& BPCL. However, the need was felt from time to time to
restructure & consolidate the public sector Oil
Companies, in view of:
• They do not operate on the entire value chain.
• There is wide variation in size, business mix,
capabilities & financial strength.
• The companies have pursued individual strategies
to broaden the scale and scope of their activities,
responding to their own growth aspirations and
impulses arising from emerging opportunities.
• They have often indulged in competing with sister
oil companies which is harmful from the national
point of view.
The need therefore was felt to achieve the size and
balance sheet strength so as to compete effectively in the
International Market for acquisition. It is also necessary to
enhance the quality of
competition, with a few
strong players rather than
too many weak players to
c o m p e t e i n t h e
International Market. India
had been facing a very
tough competition from
China. The present
Petroleum Minister, Shri
Mani Shanker Iyer is very
clear in his thoughts and for
quite sometime, he had
been working on this.
Constitution of the "Synergy
in Energy" Committee is the
outcome of his long term
vision in the overall interest of the nation.
The Petroleum Minister recently informed the
Parliamentary Consultative Committee of his Ministry, that
the Advisory Committee has been formed to give its
recommendation after deliberation, interaction and
holding meetings with all concerned with regard to
merging the Oil PSU's or allowing them to continue
operations in the present form. The Committee is headed
9
Some of the giant companies' mergers in the oil sector to
become super-major are:
BP Amoco
BP-Amoco Arco
Chevron Texaco
Exxon Mobil
Total Petrofina
Total Fina Elf Aquitaine
Philips Conoco
Nippon Oil Co. Mitsubishi Oil Co.
In India M & A was dormant in the pre-reform era because
of restriction in licencing & MRTP regime. There was slow
build-up in the post-reform period. However during the
last 3-4 years, there have been aggressive efforts in
International acquisition by Indian Companies led by Tata
Motors, Tata Steel, Bharat Forge & many Pharma Cos. The
process had been going on since then. I.T. and Telecom
sector have witnessed some significant M & A deals. TCS
acquiring CMC brought a big change in the stature and
volume of business. Dabur India is planning in big way to
become a giant company. The change takes place through
acquisition of shares or assets or Business Divisions and
also through consolidation by way of statutory merger &
amalgamation.
Some of the examples of consolidation through merger
are; Hindustan Lever involving Lipton, Brooke Bond,
Tomco, Ponds etc. RIL has been following the policy of
merger i.e. Reliance Petrochemicals, RPEL, RPPL &
Reliance Petroleum.
AVB Group has consolidated the metal business under
Hindalco by merging the copper division of Indo Gulf,
and also now INDAL. Similarly the AVB cement business
is consolidated under GRASIM.
For quite sometime, the need was felt for restructuring &
consolidation of Public Sector Oil Companies in India. In
the Ist phase, smaller companies were merged with bigger
oil companies such as;
CPCL, BRPL & IBP merging with IOCL & BPCL
It may be noted that out of 9 Navratna Companies, 5
Navratna Companies belong to Oil Sector namely IOCL,

by Shri V. Krishnamurthy. The Minister felt the need for Oil
PSU's to leverage their strength of core competence to
optimally fulfill the role envisaged for them in promoting
national objectives of energy security, accelerated growth
rate and sustained economic development.
The Advisory Committee will examine the core
competence of PSU's in Petroleum Sector to assess their
competitiveness in the emerging domestic and
international scenario. The committee will also analyze
the various options of leveraging their strength to
optimally fulfill their required contribution to the national
objectives of energy security, accelerated growth,
sustained development and social objectives of the Govt.
policy. The committee is expected to give its report by
May 2005.
Acquisition of MRPL by ONGC is
u n i q u e i n m a n y w a y s .
Historically in the past some sick
companies in Textile sector were
acquired by the public sector and
the acquiring public sector
undertaking itself became a sick
company. NTC is an example of
such take over. ONGC took a
very daring and calculated step in
acquiring MRPL at the time when
it was almost becoming a sick
unit.
Acquisition of MRPL by
ONGC
Background
MRPL was set up as the first Joint
Sector Refinery in the Country
pursuant to Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) entered
into, Government of India (GOI),
H i n d u s t a n P e t r o l e u m
Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) and
Indian Rayon & Industries Ltd. &
Associates (A. V. Birla Group) in
June 1987.
The Refinery with capacity of 9.69 MMTPA, at capital
10
cost approximately Rs.6500 Crores, was set up in two
phases (Phase I of 3.69 MMTPA commissioned in March
1996 and Phase II of 6 MMTPA commissioned in
September 1999).
The Refinery was envisaged during APM regime with the
objective of maximizing the production of Middle
Distillates (HSD / Kerosene) as these products were having
large deficits in supply.
The financial performance of MRPL started deteriorating
from 1998 - 1999 when the APM for the Refineries was
removed, due to high interest and depreciation burden
and Middle Distillates becoming surplus due to negative
growth in demand. MRPL came to very close of getting
declared as a sick unit in the year 2002-2003. The
performance of MRPL upto 2002-2003 is as under: -
Amt. in Rs. /Crores
Year Ended March 31st 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002* 2003**
Throughput MMTPA 2.80 3.95 4.06 5.17 6.41 5.32 7.26
Total Income 1300 1399 2665 3263 2721 5505 8205
Total Expenditure 770 845 2172 3206 2577 5217 7802
PBDIT 530 554 493 57 144 288 403
Interest & Financial Charges 308 393 343 237 238 672 567
PBDT 222 161 150 -180 -94 -384 -164
Depreciation 118 130 134 143 173 394 405
PBT 104 31 16 -323 -267 -778 -569
Provision for Tax 13 3 2 0 0 -286 -241
PAT 91 28 14 -323 -267 -492 -328
Extraordinary/Exceptional Items -23 -82 0 83
Net Profit / (Loss) 91 28 14 -300 -185 -492 -412
Accumulated Losses 1185
* Phase-II commissioned on 10th April 2001.
** DRP effective from 1st July 2002 and hence interest for 9 month (July 02-March 03) 02-03 at
DRP Rates.
In view of the continuing adverse financial performance,
MRPL started Debt Restructuring exercise in May 2001.
However, the same could not progress due to the

unwillingness of the then Promoters HPCL and A. V. Birla
Group to infuse further interest free funds.
ONGC's Entry into MRPL
ONGC acquired the entire 37.39% equity stake of A.V.
Birla Group in MRPL in March 2003.
O N G C n e g o t i a t e d D e b t
Restructuring Package (DRP) with the
lenders of MRPL. DRP was
implemented on 30th March 2003.
The salient features of DRP are as
under: -
a) Average cost of Borrowings
reduced from 13.61 % to 9.15 %.
Saving in interest cost: Rs.235
Crores.
b) Repayment period of Loans
extended to 12 years with four
years moratorium.
c) Pre-payment of debt permitted
without any pre-payment
premium.
d) Interest payments linked with cash flows and payable
in stepped up manner.
e) Conversion of Loans by the Lenders:
• Rs.157 Crores into Zero Coupon Loan / Debentures
and 0.01 preference shares repayable in two equal
installments at the end of 9th and 10th year from
1st July, 2002 (the date when DRP became effective).
• Rs. 358 Crores into Equity Shares with Option to
ONGC to purchase with 8% Yield.
The debt and equity profile of MRPL pre and post DRP are
as under:
ONGC exercised its option to purchase 35.8 Crores
equity shares allotted to Lenders pursuant to DRP in June /
July 2003. These shares were purchased at an average
price of Rs. 10.64 per share (including the 8% yield
secured by the ONGC under DRP). The present holding
pattern of MRPL equity is as under: -
ONGC - 71.62%
HPCL - 16.95%
Others Retail Shareholders - 11.43%
ONGC's present holding of 125.4 Crores Equity Shares of
MRPL is acquired at a cost of Rs. 1041 Crores. The current
market value of ONGC's equity holding in MRPL is
approximately Rs. 6600 Crores, i.e. an appreciation of
more than 500% in just about two years.
Performance of MRPL after ONGC's acquiring
Management control.
After acquiring the Management control of MRPL on 30th
March 2003, ONGC has taken various initiatives, which
has improved the operating and financial performance of
MRPL. MRPL refinery is now operating at around 120% of
the capacity. The performance of MRPL for the Financial
11
Pre-Restructuring Post Restructuring
29th March 2003 31st March 2003
Rate of int.% Rs. / Cr. Rate of int.% Rs. / Cr.
EQUITY 797 1752
LONG TERM DEBT
RUPEE LOANS 13.61 3185 9.15 2185
FOREIGN CURRENCY 5.77 1252 6.11 1186
ZERO COUPON DEB. 165
PARTLY CONVERTIBLE DEB. 16.00 98 16.00 98
4535 3469
NET WORTH 466 1022
DEBT EQUITY RATIO (LTD) 9.77 : 1 3.45 : 1
AVERAGE DSCR 1.57

Year 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04 & 2004-05 (Nine
Months ended Dec. 2004) is as under: -
Particulars Pre ONGC Post ONGC
12
2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05
9 months
Thruput MMTP 5.32 7.25 10.05 8.71
Rs. Crs Rs. Crs Rs. Crs Rs. Crs
PBDIT 288 319 1357 1408
Interest &
Finance Charges 672 567* 373 181
PBDT -384 -248 984 1227
Depreciation &
Amortization 394 405 409 308
PBT -779 -653 575 919
Provision for
Tax / Deferred
Tax -286 -241 115 350
PAT -492 -412 459 569
GRM (US$/BBL) 1.74 2.04 3.90 5.62
* DRP was effective from 1st July 2002.
Special emphasis has been given on safety and
environment protection. MRPL has been awarded 5 Star
rating by British Safety Council. As on 1st February 2005,
accident free days are 419.
Various initiatives have been taken to further reduce the
interest on working capital borrowing and also term loans
as under: -
a) Working Capital Borrowing has been shifted from PLR
(presently 10.25% p.a.) linked to Libor (around 2.5-
3% p.a.) linked. Saving of around 6.5% p.a.
b) ONGC's Working Capital Loan of Rs.450 Crores was
refinanced by MRPL by availing Buyers credit facility
with ONGC's guarantee carrying interest at around
1.5% p.a.
c) MRPL persuaded Saudi Aramco (Crude Supplier) to
supply crude without insisting for any LC with the
backing of ONGC's parental guarantee.
d) Once the IOC-NIOC contract was assigned by IOC in
February 2004, MRPL took up with NIOC for waiver
of confirmation / handling charges pertaining to LC
levied by Bank Markazi, Iran (0.10% flat for
confirmation & 0.10% flat for handling). After lot of
persuasion NIOC & Bank Markazi agreed to waive the
confirmation charges of LCs with support of RBI.
e) Long Term Loan of Rs. 2400 Crores availed from
ONGC in January 2004 to refinance Facilities `A', `B'
and the outstanding under facility `C', carrying interest
linked to Bank Rate (Presently 6% p.a.) have been
prepaid to the extent of 600 Crores.
The Annual Accounts of MRPL for the year 2002-03,
2003-04 were subjected to C&AG supplementing Audit
U/s 619(4). C&AG have given nil report on the same.
Other positive features after ONGC's entry in MRPL
The short term borrowing programme of MRPL is rated at
A1+rating (indicating highest safety) by ICRA on stand-alone
basis without the benefit of comfort from ONGC.
The share price of MRPL
share to almost Rs.53 per
share (increase of about
550%) indicating the
substantial improvement in
Investors confidence in
MRPL.
Market capitalization of MRPL's equity has increased
from Rs.638 Crores to approximately Rs.9000 Crores
increase of 1310%.
MRPL, which was virtually a sick unit at the time of
acquisition of A.V. Birla's stake by ONGC, entered BSE
top 30 portals on 7th January 2004.
MRPL has started getting Mumbai High crude. MRPL has
also started processing Nile crude. ESC for MRPL has been
constituted by MOP&NG. MRPL has for the first time
signed a Term Contract with Saudi Aramco (National Oil
Company of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). MOP&NG has
also approved assignment of NIOC-IOC contract of 5
MMTPA for import of Iran Mix crude in favour of MRPL.
The crude procurement is now directly done by MRPL
saving the canalizing charges / commission to the buying
agent of about 3 cents per barrel.
MRPL has finalized Contract of Affreightment with the
help of Transchart (Ministry of Shipping) for transporting its
Arab Mix / Iran Mix crude for the year 2003-04 & 2004-05
at very competitive rates.

13
Mangalore-Hassan-Bangalore Pipeline (MHBPL) has
since been commissioned in which ONGC has acquired
23% equity. This will help more evacuation of MRPL's
product in hinterland areas of Karnataka hereby
increasing the economic supply zone of MRPL.
Marketing of Products
MRPL was selling all its major products only through
HPCL till ONGC took the Management control of MRPL.
MRPL is now supplying the products to all the Oil
Companies directly in Karnataka and has also started
inter-state sales also on direct basis to all Oil Marketing
Companies thereby reducing the dependence on single
customer.
MRPL is proposing to take on lease storage and handling
facilities at various selected locations to start its direct
sales to all the Oil Companies in different States.
MRPL is assisting ONGC in implementation of ONGC's
retail marketing plan.
Steps taken to improve GRMs
After acquiring Management control by ONGC, MRPL has
undertaken various de-bottlenecking activities and also
carried out the preventive maintenance shutdowns which
were pending for quite some time to improve capacity
utilization. The planned maintenance shutdown of phase -
I unit of 3 MMTPA was taken up in September / October
2004 after more than four and a half years of operations
and was completed in record period of 21 days.
Several ENCON schemes have been initiated. Advance
Process Control schemes have been initiated for refinery
optimization. Project for setting up facility to produce
Euro III / IV compliant MS are under implementation.
Facilities for extracting high value product viz., Mix Xylene
at a cost of approximately Rs.95 Crores are being set up.
Several other projects involving substantial investment for
producing Lab, Para Xylene and setting up of Petro FCC
are being studied to further improve GRMs of MRPL.
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL),
reports gross turnover of Rs. 5446 Crores (up 63 % from
Rs. 3337 Crores) for the quarter ended 31st December
2004. The Company earned a net profit of Rs.288 Crores
(Rs.40 Crores) for the quarter, after providing for interest
and finance charges of Rs.56 Crores (Rs.101 Crores),
depreciation of Rs.95 Crores (Rs.95 Crores) and deferred /
current tax liability of Rs.185 Crores (deferred tax liability
Rs.22 Crores).
The refinery achieved a throughput of 3.023 Million
Metric Tonnes (MMT) (up 13 % from 2.667 MMT)
achieving capacity utilization of 125 % (110%). Export
sales amounted to Rs.2017 Crore (up 13 % from Rs.1783
Crores).
During the three quarters of the current financial year
(April 04 - December 04), gross turnover was Rs.14,723
Crores (up 71 % from Rs.8623 Crores) and refinery
throughput was 8.706 MMT (up 21 % from 7.183 MMT).
Net profit after tax is Rs.569 Crores (net loss Rs.92 Crores).
Realisation from product exports was Rs.4375 Crore
(up 33 % from Rs.3281 Crores).
MRPL is the first refinery in India to produce Euro-III High
Speed Diesel (HSD). The first consignment of Euro-III
HSD was despatched on December 31, 2004 through
Mangalore-Hassan-Bangalore Pipeline (MHBPL) for sale
in Bangalore. From the existing specifications of 2500
parts per million (ppm) by weight of sulphur in HSD, the
sulphur level has been brought down to 350 ppm by
weight in Euro-III, and 500 ppm by weight in BS-II Diesel.
From April 1, 2005, while 11 major cities are to switch
over to Euro-III HSD, BS-II standard is to be implemented
in the rest of the country.
Govt. of India has decided to permit MRPL along with
Reliance to market Kerosene and Diesel in the market.
Conclusions
From the above, it can be concluded that MRPL which
was just on the verge of becoming a sick unit has been
converted into a
healthy unit with the
strong backing of
ONGC and it is
expected to wipe out
t h e e n t i r e
accumulated losses of
Rs.1185 Crores by the
end of the current year
(2004-05).

Laughter Times
14
Laughter Times
Quotes of Companies
Here are some of the submissions of actual comments, notices, and statements
coming out of different companies:
• As of tomorrow, employees will only be able to access the building using individual security cards.
Pictures will be taken next Wednesday and employees will receive their cards in two weeks.
• What I need is a list of specific unknown problems, we will encounter.
• E-mail is not to be used to pass on information or data. It should be used only for company business.
• This project is so important, we can't let things that are more important interfere with it.
• We know that communication is a problem, but the company is not
going to discuss it with the employees.
one liners
Work is fine if it doesn't take too much of your time.
you're in the wrong lane.
When everything comes in your way!
taxed to death.
some just don't have film.
what you are thinking.
leave work at noon!
Cunino's Law of Burnt Fingers.
Born free
Everyone has a photographic memory,
Smile, it makes people wonder
Beat the 5 O'clock rush,
Hot glass looks same as cold glass. -

15
Murphy's work laws
– Don't be irreplaceable, if you can't be replaced,
you can't be promoted.
– You can go anywhere you want if you look serious
and carry a clipboard.
– Never ask two questions in a business letter.
The reply will discuss the one you are least
interested in, and say nothing about the other.
– Everything can be filed under "miscellaneous."
– Never delay the ending of a meeting or the
beginning of a cocktail hour.
– Anyone can do any amount of work provided it
isn't the work he is supposed to be doing.
– If you are good, you will be assigned all the work.
If you are really good, you will get out of it.
– You are always doing something marginal when
the boss drops by your desk.
– People are always available for work in the past
tense.
– If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get
done.
– When you don't know what to do, walk fast and
look worried.
– No one gets sick on Wednesdays.
– All vacations and holidays create problems,
except for one's own.
– Success is just a matter of luck, just ask any failure.
Team Work

Public Sector Stays Ahead, Earns More & Contributes More
Public sector is a crucial component of the Indian
economy - an engine of growth. It has succeeded to a
large extent in meeting the objective and laying a strong
foundation for industrial development of the country. The
Finance Minister has in his budget speech reiterated
Government's commitment for a strong and effective
public sector operating in a competitive environment.
The Economic Policy of 1990-91 has brought
competitiveness and confidence in public enterprises.
Most of them have adapted to the liberalized economic
regime and many have become top rankers in their fields of
operations. One of the PSUs appeared in the FORTUNE
500 List also. Central PSEs have become leaner over the
years, shedding manpower. Their sales have been growing,
which in turn, translates to higher per employee sale or
improving utilization.
During the year 2002-03, Central PSUs have performed
commendably well by registering quantum jump in net
profit (23.72%), turnover (13.71%), return on investment
(17.45%), foreign exchange earnings (29.17%) and
contribution to the national exchequer (30.32%).
Significant Rise in Profit and Profitability
According to the Public Enterprises Survey 2002-03
released by the Government recently, the Central PSEs
have recorded a net profit of Rs.32,141 Cr during 2002-03
as against Rs.25,978 Cr last year registering an increase of
23.72% and Rs.4,545 Cr a decade back i.e. an increase of
607.17% over 1993-94. Their profit before depreciation,
interest and tax has increased from Rs.27,707 Cr in
1993-94 to Rs.1,00,918 Cr in 2002-03 thereby registering
a rise of 264.23 per cent. Profit before interest and tax
during last one decade has risen from Rs.18,556 Cr to
Rs. 73,077 Cr, which works out to a 293.82% increase.
The return on equity rose to 28.64% in 2002-03.
CPSEs return on investment i.e. Profit before interest and
tax to capital employed has increased to 17.45% from
11.6% a decade back. It was 16.20% the previous year
and 14.7% in 2000-01.
The detailed analysis of enterprise-wise profitability
reveals that 118 profit making enterprises earned a profit
16
Dr. S. M. Dewan, Director General, SCOPE
Dr. S. M. Dewan a Graduate in Honours from University of Punjab
and MBA from Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi. Advance
Management programme from IIM, Ahmedabad, a Ph.D. in
International Commerce and Post-Graduate in Company Law.
He has held very senior assignments in PSUs viz., Chairman-cum-Mg.
Director of STC, Chairman, Spice Trading Corporation of India,
Chairman, Tea Trading Corporation of India, Chairman, PEC Limited
and Member on the Board of MMTC, ESPL & Steel Strips Wheels Ltd.
He is an Adviser on Export to international organizations. He has held
the position of Vice-Chairman, SCOPE, in the preceding two years
and is presently its Director General.

Public sector is a crucial component of the Indian
economy - an engine of growth. It has succeeded to a
large extent in meeting the objective and laying a strong
foundation for industrial development of the country. The
Finance Minister has in his budget speech reiterated
Government's commitment for a strong and effective
public sector operating in a competitive environment.
The Economic Policy of 1990-91 has brought
competitiveness and confidence in public enterprises.
Most of them have adapted to the liberalized economic
regime and many have become top rankers in their fields
of operations. One of the PSUs appeared in the
FORTUNE 500 List also. Central PSEs have become
leaner over the years, shedding manpower. Their sales
have been growing, which in turn, translates to higher per
employee sale or improving utilization.
During the year 2002-03, Central PSUs have performed
commendably well by registering quantum jump in net
profit (23.72%), turnover (13.71%), return on
investment (17.45%), foreign exchange earnings
(29.17%) and contribution to the national exchequer
(30.32%).
Significant Rise in Profit and Profitability
According to the Public Enterprises Survey 2002-03
released by the Government recently, the Central PSEs
have recorded a net profit of Rs.32,141 Cr during 2002-
03 as against Rs.25,978 Cr last year registering an
increase of 23.72% and Rs.4,545 Cr a decade back i.e.
an increase of 607.17% over 1993-94. Their profit
before depreciation, interest and tax has increased from
R s . 2 7 , 7 0 7 C r i n
1993-94 to Rs.1,00,918 Cr in 2002-03 thereby
registering a rise of 264.23 per cent. Profit before interest
and tax during last one decade has risen from Rs.18,556
Cr to
Rs. 73,077 Cr, which works out to a 293.82% increase.
The return on equity rose to 28.64% in 2002-03.
CPSEs return on investment i.e. Profit before interest and
tax to capital employed has increased to 17.45% from
11.6% a decade back. It was 16.20% the previous year
and 14.7% in 2000-01.
The detailed analysis of enterprise-wise profitability
reveals that 118 profit making enterprises earned a profit
of Rs.43,085 Cr compared to Rs.36,432 Cr earned by
120 enterprises during the previous year. The profit of
profit making PSEs in 2002-03 has more than
quadrupled since 1993-94.
544390
Consistent Improvement in Turnover and Impressive
17
GROWTH OF TURNOVER (RS IN CRORE)
400000 600000
2002-03
2000-01
1998-99
1995-96
1993-94
0 200000
458237
310179
226919
158049 RETURN ON INVESTMENT (%)
1992-
93
1994-
95
1997-
98
2001-
02
2002-
03
11.4
13.9
14.9
16.2
17.45
20
15
10
5
0
NET PROFIT (Rs. In Crore)
35000
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
1993-
94
1996-
97
2000-
01
2001-
02
2002-
03
4545
10186
15653
25978
32141

The Wealth Creators and Foreign Exchange Earners
54160
16676
Internal resource generation of CPSEs grew from
Rs.52,544 Cr the previous year to Rs.54,160 Cr during
2002-03. Since 1993-94, it totals to Rs.329,362 Cr which
is more than twice the cumulative investments made in
CPSEs over the last five decades.
Public Enterprises also play a major role in easing balance
of payment(s) position of our country by promoting
import substitution and earning foreign exchange. During
2002-03 export earnings of PSEs increased to Rs.26,980
Cr as compared to Rs.20,887 Cr during 2001-02 showing
29.17% increase.
Contribution to National Economy
Public sector occupy a key position in the nation's
economy in several sectors, specially in the production of
coal, lignite, petroleum, basic metal, non-ferrous metal
and fertilizers. Production of coal from public sector
increased from a meager 12.61 million tones in 1968-69
to 325.40 million tones in the year 2002-03 which
accounted for over 95.36% of the total production.
Likewise, the share of public sector in crude oil, natural
gas and refinery crude production was 87.62%, 83.73%
and 66.42% respectively. In case of finished steel its
production rose from 2.55 MT in 1968-69 to 10.97 MT in
2002-03 which accounted for 32.62% of country's total
production.
18
REPORT CARD
PSUs PERFORMANCE OVER THREE YEARS
(Rs. In Crore)
S. N. Particulars 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03
1. No. of operating
enterprises 234 231 227
2. Capital employed 331401 390162 418758
3. PBDIT 69287 89550 100918
4. Net Profit 15653 25978 32141
5. Profit of profit
making PSEs 28494 36432 43085
6. Loss of loss incurring
PSEs 12841 10454 10944
7. Profit making PSEs 123 120 118
8. Loss incurring PSEs 110 109 107
9. Dividend 8260 8068 13735
10. PBDIT to capital
employed 20.9 22.95 24.10
11. PBIT to capital
employed 14.7 16.20 17.45
INTERNAL RESOURCE GENERATION
(RS. IN CRORE)
2000-
01
2002-
03
25554
37811
1993-
94
1996-
97
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0

19
An article, which appeared in the first issue of "Synergy",
published in 1987, contained interesting comments by Directors
and eminent Oil Indians, on whether OIL should diversify. We
thought it would interest our readers, since some of these are
relevant in today's context. Hence, decided to publish some of
them in this issue. The designations of the persons are being
printed as they appeared in the Synergy, 1987.
Excerpts from the Article
A.B. Das Gupta
Vice Chairman, WB S & TC
Member of State Planning Board &
Former OIL Managing Director, 1987
In a situation where industrial alternatives are coming up fast and it is difficult to foresee which particular item is going
to become scarce, that one tries to spread activity over a number of areas, so that the loss of any one or two areas does
not completely cripple the organization. In OIL's case, without further major discoveries its available petroleum
resources may become scarce.
In a Public Sector Enterprise, commercial factors are modified by the role which has been allotted to it by the
Government. Territorially, OIL has already diversified. Whether it ought to go in for more areas should depend upon
its own assessment of its opportunities and managerial situation.
Basically, each oil territory passes through a succession of discovery, growth, peak and declining phase. The word
'territory' here has both lateral and vertical connotations. Sometimes, when an upper group of oil pools have set upon
its finally declining production, the discovery and development of a lower group (or vice-versa) would give a fresh
lease of life. In the ultimate context, however, it is also necessary to move into new geographical areas. Should OIL
find itself in a position to undertake further new area exploration ventures, they would have to prepare, to start with, a
series of geological synthesis of the available regions and then exercise their choice in the matter.
Incidentally, there is one aspect of territorially diversified and collaborative operations, which is very important. This
enables the Company's professionals to rapidly improve their knowledge base and effectiveness by exposing them to
diverse conditions, situations and solutions. In the process, this improvement should reflect on the Company's
operations in many directions.
Apart from territorial diversification OIL may have some scope as well for products diversification. LPG today has
virtually an unlimited market, and its extraction should also be able to reduce flaring. Then again there is the rest of
propane which cannot be included in the LPG. Even ethane may have a large potential market. One could also
examine to what extent the flared gas can be used for on-the-spot power generation and/or carbon black production.
OIL has some resources of high aromatic low wax crude which could well merit some separate and specialized
refining treatment, but this would presumably come in the domain of IOC.
OIL could possibly think of entering the consultancy and the services area in a big way. However, unless the
professionals employed in these activities can be paid at near international rates the clients may try to win them off into
their own pay roles rather than pay consultancy/service fees to OIL.
Apart from what OIL can do as an organization, the OIL employees should be able to adapt themselves after retirement
for work on ground water exploration and exploitation as well as on city gas distribution. With proper approach, they
may even be able to set up entrepreneurial ventures in these areas, with the help and collaboration of the Industrial
Development Corporation of the Sate concerned.

20
Dr. V.K. Kelkar
Chairman, Bureau of Industrial Costs and
Pricing and former OIL Director, 1987
The time has not come for OIL to consider exploits outside of E&P. Oil India is one of our two premier exploration and
production companies, and E&P should remain its primary tasks.
At this juncture the country's economic priority in the energy sector would be to intensify exploration so as to gauge
and develop the hydrocarbon potential at our command. Oil India should seriously add to this effort by expanding
geographically. By acquiring more acreage both onshore and offshore the company can balance its risks and chart
out a strategic course of action based on both commercial returns and establishing potential for future exploitation.
OIL has commercial interests and exploration risks can be offset by judicious planning. All oilfield services, for
example, should be hired, and to the maximum extent the newest technology utilized. Only production equipment
need be owned by the company.
By remaining an E&P Company OIL can continue to be one of our profit leaders. LPG extraction by both OIL and
ONGC was undertaken because of convenience, there were no other companies who could easily set up the required
infrastructure in the vicinity of the gas off-take points. But OIL should intensify operations in the existing concessions,
including Assam, so as to maximize production.
After consolidating its E&P interests, OIL can think of diversification into other forms of energy generation that are
today considered non-conventional. But this is for the future.
Oil India's batting average has been very good its got excellent geologists and other technical personnel and I see very
promising innings ahead.
B.C. Bora
General Manager (Production)
(Former Chairman & Managing Director, OIL & ONGC)
OIL, over the years, has built up expertise in exploration, production and transportation of crude oil and natural
gas. These are our main areas of strength and, therefore, we should rather expand our activities in these fields
instead of trying to diversify into other fields.
Various organizations have already come up in the country, both in the private and in the public sectors in allied
fields like refining, gas processing, manufacturing, etc. I do not think it would be right for OIL to intrude into their
areas of expertise.
However, OIL should diversify to areas like consultancy services, project management and turn-key project
implementation in the field of its expertise, such as seismic data acquisition and processing, drilling, reservoir
engineering, production engineering, pipeline transportation, gas handling and transportation, engineering
services, gas turbine power generation, etc. For this purpose, OIL will have to attract the best available talents from
the international market by offering remuneration packages comparable to international rates. Therefore, it would
be necessary to make these services group of OIL work as a separate profit centre with an aggressive profit oriented
incentive scheme and marketing approach.

C. Ratnam
Senior Geo Technical Adviser
(Former Chairman & Managing Director, OIL)
Roopkali, an Elephant "Employee" of The Assam Oil Company,
Shifting a Tank
Unless we make a big strike somewhere, about 500 engineers will be out of their jobs in OIL after 20 years.
That is why it is so essential that OIL start thinking of exploiting other forms of energy.
Crude oil will run out in the world in another 50 years. The future lies with fusion energy. It is like harnessing
a controlled hydrogen bomb.
Civilization made the first change when man moved from the nomadic culture to settled agriculture
patterns. In the field of energy, we are still in the nomadic stage, we have to go where the energy is. This
situation can only be changed with fusion energy when man controls his energy sources without getting into
the hunter/gatherer syndrome.
A lot of R&D is yet to go into fusion energy and those intermediate years between hydrocarbon and fusion
will see the world using geo-thermal energy.
The possibility of tapping geo-thermal energy was raised in our strategic planning meeting held in Duliajan
in August 1985. I am in the process of preparing a feasibility to using this energy. Various countries like
Ireland, Italy and New Zealand are already using geo-thermal energy.
Geo-thermal is extracting the sub-surface heat and using it as an energy source. 90% of this technology of
tapping the underground heat is the same as oil technology. We have this know-how in abundance and we
can immediately transfer it and put it to use. Our reason for diversification is not to ensure an alternate
capital base for the company because we are a public sector unit, but our diversification into geo-thermal
energy will allow us to use our specific talents for the company's future.
I have given a lot of thought to this problem. I have collected relevant statistics of the sub-surface
temperature conditions in Assam and Orissa. Both these areas have plenty of water and the temperature
differential between the hot water we get from underground and the surface water available will allow us to
produce continued sources of energy. I was discussing this the other day with the Secretary in the
Department of Non-Conventional Energy Sources and he seemed quite interested. About 9 years ago I even
thought of tapping nuclear fuel like uranium and thorium, etc.
OIL should spread out into newer areas like the Nicobar Islands and the Kerala Coast. We can in fact become
the Indian collaborator for the Kerala-Konkan region of the foreign company who will respond to the
Government's third round of bids to explore in the country's offshore blocks. The delegation from the
Yugoslavian National Oil Company that came to us recently was very keen that OIL joins hands with them
for oil exploration in various parts of the world.
21
I don't think the existing PEL areas with OIL are sufficient.
We should explore in other basins also. The selection of
basins will depend entirely on the geological prospects
and can probably be identified best by the geologists.
Nevertheless, on the basis of what I have heard from
geologists, I felt that we can go in for exploration in the
Gangetic basin and the foot-hills of the Himalayas.

B.B. Sharma
Dy. General Manager (Workover, Commissioning & Stimulation)
No, I definitely don't think that OIL should diversify to manufacturing products. With the available resources, we
can in fact enhance our present operations. We should do more exploration and more EOR to find more oil in the
country. We have a very fine group of executives and workmen who have the rare expertise of petroleum
technology in this country and we should utilize them to the fullest.
I feel we can definitely go for major exploration activities both in the North East region and outside. The North bank
of the Brahmputra needs to be explored. We have PELs in 3 basins outside this region and aside from working on
these 3, we should also go out to get newer areas so that we can spread our exploration activities throughout the
country. To do this, we need to only increase our manpower in the decision making level, i.e. personnel such as
geologists, petroleum technologists, etc. It would not be prudent to acquire our own equipment and instead we
should opt for hired services.
It is in OIL's interest and in the nation's interest that we gamble in exploration outside Assam. We can do this
without sacrificing the Assam and Arunachal Pradesh operations from where our main revenue comes today. The
people of Assam need to be explained the national perspective of why we are going outside Assam so that they do
not have a misunderstanding about our necessity to take on exploratory activities in the country as a whole.
Since there is a slump in oil exploration in the world in general, we need not think in terms of spreading our
operations outside India now.
22
S. Chaliha
Director (Exploration & Development)
Yes, we should diversify to increase our turnover. Our diversification should be related to oil, be capital intensive and be
hi-tech oriented. Skilled human materials are very important and if we can attract talented manpower, we can achieve a
lot and simultaneously carry out exploration and other diversified activities so as to ensure corporate viability.
I have been advocating diversification for more than 16 years now ever since I was the Chief Geologist in Duliajan. I even
thought of wild ideas like buying up of tea gardens when the tea market was depressed. The famous example of ITC, a
cigarette company going into a totally unrelated business of hoteliering, came much later. Even the BOC diversified into
shipping, cycle parts marketing, etc. because they claim that doing so is still within their objective of dealing with people.
In fact, many years ago BOC came and surveyed the area to set up a fertilizer plant in Duliajan. Of course, they were not
given the licence by the Government. It took us 12 years of sustained effort with the Government to set up the LPG plant
in Duliajan. I remember, I had even conducted a survey in places like Titabor and Moran to find out the marketing
requirement for LPG. In those days I was very much in favour of producing our own petrochemicals or setting up gas
processing units instead of selling our gas for the paltry sum of 25 paise and Rs.1.20 per thousand cubic feet to ASEB and
HFC respectively at that time. Today various agencies can come up to use the free gas we have in Tenghakhat for setting
up such industries. I do not envisage problems in marketing as our country always has a short supply of petrochemicals.
Look at IPCL. Their turnover is going up by leaps and bounds. With a capital input of less than Rs. 300 crores they will
increase their turnover from Rs. 500 crores today to Rs. 2,500 crores five years later.
OIL should definitely not concentrate in one corner of India alone. In the North East we will remain a big fish in a small
pond. But I have an all India outlook and I feel that unless we grow fast our corporate viability will be jeopardized. We
should quickly explore intensely the areas we now have with more pre-drilling surveys, reserve establishment, drilling
and then pull out immediately, if necessary. The time span should be small and we should operate like a private

company. After keeping or relinquishing the areas we have, we can be on the look out for more prospective areas like offshore
Saurashtra, Kerala, Konkan, Lacadives, etc. But at every stage our operations should be quick.
Once we get additional manpower, OIL can certainly think of going outside the country, but not with our internal resources.
Aside from proving our worth as an international oil operator this would serve to broaden our intellectual horizon. This is
specially fruitful for our geo-scientists. Even within India our geologists have been studying the geology of the North East region
only. But once we got the other basins in the country our perspectives have certainly widened and our geo-scientific analyses
are today much sharper and broad based.
Dr. P. Bharali
Director (Operations), 1987
To survive OIL must go into new areas, new activities, but all aligned to the geosciences and to petroleum technology
including surveys and what is required in production and allied services.
We must of course pursue our present stance of 'prospect to pipeline' but it would be in our interest to grow as a
petroleum prospecting and developing company. To enable a steady return we can think of a 15 to 20% investment
further in LPG and than into ethane extraction.
Today OIL is concentrated 80% in Assam and 20% outside. If we make a major strike in our new areas, the whole
scenario will change. Today's priority is to implement the 7th Five Year Plan and also plan on a long range for the next 10
to 15 years. We must be ready with all alternatives and contingencies for the coming years.
Our biggest asset is our people. We have a large number of youngsters today who will professionally mature very soon.
We can now also consider giving help to other developing countries in areas that constitute our expertise in seismic
survey, drilling, etc. And whenever we accept new work we can send a nucleus of people and then build up the project.
We can even consider diversification into related areas like geothermal energy.
Dr. S.N. Visvanath
Former General Manager (O)
In the confused scenario that constitutes today's global and consequently Indian
economy, it would be unwise for an industry to put all its eggs in one basket. I, therefore,
believe that OIL should diversify.
Diversification could be by floating affiliates with equity participation. Possible partners
could be the State Government or any entrepreneur of proven excellence. Product-wise,
diversification should essentially be into gas-based derivatives (methanol, ammonia,
carbon block, etc.). Service-wise, you could think in terms of: (a) consultancy service in
the fields of reservoir engineering and pipeline construction; and (b) contract drilling
services. It should, however, be emphasized that establishing hydrocarbon resources
must remain the back-bone of OIL despite the baffling events in the world of petroleum
and that diversification is merely to impart additional strength to its limbs.
OIL has had a long and creditable innings in the north east and must now reach out for
newer horizons. One is strongly tempted to stay close to the known and to the familiar, but true maturity lies in stepping
out and seeking new avenues to conquer. Existing PELs in north eastern India are inadequate. You must obtain more,
particularly along the Naga-Patkai foothills. You should explore in basins additional to where you are now operating.
Areas of promise are Kerala-Konkan, Lakshadweep in the first instance.
To establish credibility OIL should operate outside India, first as an agent of the Government of India, and thereafter seek
independent status. Consultancy services to developing countries would be most prudent. Investment would be
minimum and there will only be a marginal addition to the manpower. Such services could be in project management,
production, well log interpretation, well site services, pipeline, transportation, etc.
However, it would be advisable for OIL to wait for the global oil scene with its several price-wars,
cut-backs in production, retrenchment, etc. to become a bit clearer before getting into a foreign venture.
23
Swardar Swaran Singh (Extreme Left),
Union Minister for Steel, Mines & Fuel
accompanied among others, by
Mr. W.P.G. Maclachlan (Exteme Left)
A.O.C. GM, in a boat crossing Buri Dihing
River to reach Nahorkatiya in January 1958.

Synthetic fuel from North East coal
The country's self sufficiency in crude oil has been
consistently declining from about 70% in 1974-75 to about
26% in 2001-02 and is expected to reach as low as 12% by
the year 2020. This trend of widening gap between the
demand and indigenous supply of petroleum energy in
India is a cause for serious concern. Every year, India has to
spend thousands of crore of rupees for import of crude oil
and petroleum products and this amount will go up
manifold in coming decades with increased demand.
The process of economic development introduced in the
country is largely dependent on adequate availability of
crude oil and petroleum products at affordable prices.
Therefore any disruptions in oil supplies would hamper
progress of the country. There have been several price
hikes of oil since 1971 and in all the cases India was one
of the hardest hit countries.
Strategies involving intensive domestic exploration efforts
to add to the hydrocarbon reserve base and acquisition of
equity oil abroad have been adopted to improve
availability. Nevertheless, in the wake of volatile crude oil
prices and highly unstable political configuration of the
oil-exporting nations, the high import dependency of the
Indian economy is a matter of grave concern. This brings
forth a strategic need to arrange for an alternate source of
energy for the nation.
Coal liquefaction is one of the options available to the
nation, and development of technologies for liquefaction
of coal and capabilities for adoption of a suitable
technology for commercial exploitation is the need of the
hour. Fortunately, the tertiary coals available in the north
eastern states of India have properties like low ash, high
sulphur and high volatile matter content and these unique
properties make them an ideal resource for conversion to
liquid fuel. Besides the property of their amenability to
liquefaction, the occurrence of most of these coals in the
vicinity of oil and gas fields and refining facilities is an
additional advantage for their integrated development.
These coals have remained under-utilized due to their
high sulphur content. The
proven reserve of such coal is
about 412 MMT out of a total
reserve of 890 MMT. This
coal resource has potential to
generate about 200 MMT of
liquid fuel.
Oil India Limited in its all out
effort to contribute more
towards India's self reliance
Future Strategy for Energy Security
Swadhin Hazarika, Chief Engineer (PACER Project)
24
Shri S. Hazarika joined OIL in 1973 as GET in Mechanical
Engineering department. He was associated with various mechanical
engineering services provided to drilling and production oil and gas
activities including installation and commissioning of the first
electrical rig and the first Nitrogen and Coiled Tubing Unit in OIL.
Worked in Safety & Environment department and was involved in the
formulation of safety guidelines for oilfield operations.
He is currently associated with the prestigious Coal Liquefaction
Project and at present holding the post of Head- Coal Liquefaction
Project.

continued production and are still economically
producing syn-fuel from their plants built in 1950s and
1970s as the capital costs of these plants have already
been paid off.
Efforts towards commercial production of liquid fuels
from coal have taken place in the US, UK and Japan
without actual full scale commercial development. The
main reason for not going up to commercial operation in
these countries has been the availability of inexpensive
petroleum supplies in abundance from both domestic and
imported sources. Recent advancements in coal
liquefaction technologies including improved reactor and
catalyst design and their adoption in country like China
are opening up new clean and environment friendly
options for the future.
OIL's efforts for development of coal liquefaction
technologies and capabilities will result in the following
benefits:
Premium quality and environment friendly liquid fuel
will be produced from poor quality coal.
If OIL's project becomes commercially viable India
will have a new technology in command for
commercial use whenever demand comes.
There will be energy security and insurance for India
against stoppage of oil supply in the international
market due to war or other situations, decline in the
existing producing oil fields of India and due to no
discovery of major oil finds in the coming years.
Coal liquefaction could make a significant contribution
to India's energy supply in the coming decades.
q
q
q
q
25
and energy security and to develop an alternate source of
liquid fuel, has taken up an R&D project to study the
techno-economic feasibility of converting the high
sulphur coal of north eastern coalfields into synthetic
crude oil and distilled fuel like LPG, gasoline, kerosene,
diesel etc. Accordingly, a pilot plant was set up in OIL's
headquarters at Duliajan, Assam, in 1999 to generate
scientific data and carry out feasibility studies on direct
coal liquefaction in collaboration with Axens North
America of USA. Though the results of the pilot plant
studies with Axens NA's technologies have been found to
be encouraging, other contemporary technologies are
also being evaluated to select the most appropriate one for
the type of coal available in the North East. OIL, therefore,
is now taking up a preliminary site-specific feasibility
study by adopting the Direct Coal Liquefaction
technology of Hydrocarbon Technologies Inc. (HTI) of
USA. The HTI technology has been adopted by Shenhua
Group of China for its 50,000 bbls / day, pioneer direct
coal liquefaction plant being constructed in China's Inner
Mongolia. The plant is expected to be commissioned in
2007. If it is established that a project on liquefaction of
coal will be commercially viable in India, OIL, in
collaboration with competent partners, may set up a
commercial coal liquefaction plant in near future.
International scenario of commercial
coal liquefaction
Use of Coal for producing liquid fuel has been known to
man since the days of First World War. Large commercial
plants were operated in Germany during the Second
World War when a wide range of transportation fuels
were produced from coal to supply the war machines.
South Africa started production of liquid fuels from coal
due to international trade embargo imposed on the
country during apartheid era. Lack of petroleum and
natural gas reserves but abundance of coal reserves also
had driven South Africa towards adopting indirect coal
liquefaction technology to produce liquid fuels and petro
chemicals. Therefore, it can be seen that the commercial
application of liquefaction of coal for production of oil
had taken place in unusual circumstances where price
had been a less critical factor than secured or strategic
supply. With the discovery of cheap crude oil in Middle
East and other places Germany stopped production of
synthetic fuel, but South Africa, under the apartheid rule,

The calf beaten path
M. A. Niphi, Manager (Personnel), OIL, Duliajan
26
M. A. NIPHI is an MBA from XLRI, Jamshedpur. He has
worked in Administration, T&D, Public Relations, Industrial
Relations and Personnel Department in OIL. Presently, he is
involved with the ERP Project `Aarohan'.
Once upon a time, there was a calf. One evening, this calf (like any other
calf) came back home after wandering here and there, left and right through
a thick jungle; even though the distance from its home was just about
a kilometer away from where it lived.
The next morning, a shepherd's dog passed by and saw the calf's hoof
marks and followed the path of the calf through the woods.
Shortly after, the first sheep of a flock followed the path
with all the remaining sheeps following him.
So a path through the woods was made.
Then men began to use this path, cursing its twists and turns as they walked
and walked but doing nothing about it. A century later,
the road became a street .
The street turned into a city's crowded thorough fare with thousands
following the footprints left by a wobbly calf. Three centuries later,
the road became
the main street of a very large city. Buses, lorries, trams and cars followed
the path of a wandering calf.
“ A hundred thousand men were led by one calf near three centuries dead.
They followed still this crooked way and lost one hundred years a day…
… along the calf path of the mind.
And work away from sun to sun, to do what other men have done,
to keep the path that others do, along which all their lives they do."
Walter Foss ( 1895 )

Of late, this poem has been a constant thought which I felt
is worth sharing with all fellow Oil Indians. As we all
know, our company is going through a transition stage
moving away from the conventions and traditions of how
we were doing business in the past. Our Strategic business
initiatives focus towards doubling production within a 10
year time frame and to move out from just being a regional
player into a National / Global player in the oil industry.
OIL is now being steered and led into a different level
altogether identified with greater growth, greater
accountability and greater empowerment by transforming
ourselves into a Learning Organisation.
The time is ripe for us to seriously ponder whether we
should stick on to traditions, standards and set practices
when we all agree that changes are inevitably sweeping
through everything. Nothing is static. Everything changes
and everything has to change indeed.
But at the end of the day, we will reap a rich harvest if only
we can live through the changes by focusing and directing
all our efforts towards our goal and vision that is already set
before us. Henry Ford had once said," Obstacles are those
frightening things you see when you take your eyes off the
goal."
How long can we remain in our `Comfort Zones' and be
boasting of our rich heritage of values and culture? Or for
that matter, say to others," THOSE WERE THE GOOD
OLD DAYS" without trying to do anything about the
present. The `glorious past' is no longer a good guide for
the present and even the future. Towards this, Rudyard
Kipling gives us a thought that goes…
" I keep six honest serving men
They taught me all I know
Their names are WHAT and WHY and WHERE
And HOW and WHEN and WHO…"
Let us maximise and build on from our rich base by
becoming observant and aware of everything around us.
Let us be clear in identifying misleading calf paths by
changing our perceptions and assumptions of our jobs
and ourselves. We need a questioning attitude of the mind
by using the `Six Honest Men' whose services are
available to all of us, anywhere at all times.
We can transform our working places and our places of
dwelling into green fresh pastures, that will yield dynamic
results, ensuring optimum growth and efficiency for the
organisation.
We owe our allegiance to the Company. The Company
needs our full-hearted support commitment and
contribution at this point of time. We need to stand and
rise up on the occasion and face the changes boldly. Let us
not leave to chance and say whatever will happen will
happen. It is for all of us to make changes happen the way
we want.
Systems, best practices and packages can be bought and
put in place. But unless we are open and adapt these
changes in it's right earnest, the best of systems will fail.
For ultimately, it is the man behind the machine that
matter. It calls for a shift into a positive mind-set where
avenues for learning and growth are abundant.
Our individual views about our organisation depend
upon our view-points. The higher we stand, the further we
see and the broader our outlook becomes. Therefore, let
us all come together, stand higher and contribute for our
own growth. Because when it comes to work, no matter
how high or low, in rank and file, a job is a job. Everyone
has a role to play and contribute. For they say "a chain is as
strong as its weakest link". We should not
compartmentalise departments, sections or groups
because `we are sailing on the same boat'. Let us continue
to give our best and make OIL a Company where OIL
never ceases to flow!
>>><<< 27

"Corporate Branding" driving force in a market driven mechanism
28
Tridiv Hazarika, Oil India Limited
A senior Public Relations Officer of Oil India Limited,
Tridiv completed his Masters in Communication Studies
(MCmS) from Pune University and Bachelors with Honours in
Economics from Fergusson College, Pune University.
Recipient of State Merit Scholarship, National Merit
Scholarship & Government of India Merit Scholarship for
Higher Studies from North Eastern Council, Tridiv has always
been keenly involved in creative activities like public
speaking, dramatics and literature from his schooling days in
Don Bosco High School, Guwahati. He had conducted Quiz,
Current Affairs Programmes, Interviews for Doordarshan.
Trained in Physical Theater by David Greaves, Royal Academy
Prologue
Let's begin with a trivia.
What could be common to a school dropout juvenile
delinquent in rural China, a septuagenarian trapeze star of
a Russian Circus, an upward mobile yuppie of Mumbai, a
new member of Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity; an
underworld kingpin on the run in Middle East, a veteran
soldier of Indian Army who fought two wars with
Pakistan, now running a popular Dhaba on the Delhi-
Jaipur Highway?
Well, one possibly can't find any other connectivity other
than what brand consultants would readily agree: All of
them must have tasted Coca Cola or atleast heard about
the world's most popular brand.
Welcome to the world of Brands. They are all-around you
- enticing, cajoling, tempting, luring and at times
annoying you; trying hard to somehow steal a permanent
space in your subconscious. An attempt, the more
of Drama and Arts (London).
successful it is, branding jargon would refer to as "Brands
with good Recall".
All of us grew along with various brands. In the Indian
context, brands like Johnson and Johnson baby hampers,
Colgate toothpaste, Amulspray Milk, Glycodin Cough Syrup,
Usha Fan, Godrej Almirahs, Hero Cycles, Philips Radio, Tata
Steel, Bajaj Scooters, Ambassador Cars to the recent entries
like Maruti Suzuki, Santro, Sony, Pepsi, Coke and a number
of brands with transcontinental presence.
On being asked to describe what "Brand" is all about, a
salesman promptly replied: "It is something that is not
seen but only felt…something that says almost everything
about my organization, without actually saying it in so
many words."
In business parlance, branding is the culmination of a
process that involves concentrating all of a company's
resources and all its functions only on one purpose -
CREATING AND SUSTAINING A DIFFERENCE.
Let's probe a little deeper into the world of Brands.

Brand - a historical perspective
Branding has a long history. The word 'brand' is derived
from the word brandr, a word used by early Norse
tribesman meaning 'to burn' as in branding livestock to
declare ownership. Although popularly the differentiating
of cattle by their owners in the wild west is considered to
be the more recent roots of modern day complex branding
process, brands have been used as marks of identification
at some time in all countries and civilizations. The
branding scene below is shown on Egyptian Tomb walls
dating back to 2,000 B.C.
BRANDS WERE APPLIED TO HUMANS AS RECENT AS
1822.
For over 4,000 years, brands have been used for
identification on both livestock and humans. Fugitives,
galley slaves, gypsies, vagabonds, brawlers, and the
clergy have been marked with "symbols of shame" brands
down through history. The science of brand reading
almost requires a language of its own. Amazingly, every
numeral and letter of the alphabet can be made with an
iron shaped in a configuration.
Until modern times, to prevent theft, livestock being
driven across country were required to be "road branded".
The brands were painted on with pine tar or paint in early
history. Later, when the vast trail herds of cattle were
driven north to market, hot iron brands were used.
Rustlers using "running irons" were ingenious in changing
brands. The most famous brand change involved making
the X I T brand into a Star with a cross inside.
“Over the years brands evolved from being an
identifier, than a discriminator and finally a repository
of shared meanings & beliefs.”
Corporate Branding
Every successful brand has managed to communicate its
company's core beliefs and attitudes what the company
stands for to its target customers. Over the last hundred
years there has been a proliferation of products due to
mass production and distribution. As technologies
developed it became increasingly difficult to
differentiate in a given product category. Without having
strong brands, consumers find it difficult to make a
choice between a large number of products and services.
In such situations, strong brands can differentiate
between similar products and consumers use brands as a
mechanism to make purchase decisions.
Brands allow you to clearly define and communicate
what you stand for, whether you're the "lowest-cost
provider," the "most innovative," the "best total solution,"
the "preferred choice" and so on.
Indian brands like Colgate and Godrej have touched the
zenith of brand value, which is reflected in the fact they
have become generic names (people use these brand
names loosely for all other toothpaste/steel cabinets
brands).
There is evidence available worldwide that the
performance of Companies is directly linked with the
strength of the brand name. A study conducted by
Mckinsey in 1999 across 130 countries worldwide
demonstrated that an average the total return to the
shareholder was five percentage points higher than
companies which had weak brands.
“Target Groups, Communication Content and Methods
& Modes are the main constituents of Corporate
Branding.”
Brand Value
For the fourth consecutive year, Business Week has
teamed up with Interbrand, a leading brand consultancy,
to publish a ranking of The 100 Best Global Brands by
dollar value. This year's rankings rewarded companies
29

1 $67.39
2 61.37
3 53.79
4 44.11
5 33.50
6 27.11
7 25.00
8 24.04
9 22.67
10 22.13
that build communities around their products and
services creating "cult brands" that enable customers to
feel as if they own the brand. Cutting-edge technology
companies did well as four of the top five biggest gainers
in brand value are from the tech sector, while long-established
Branding Basics
30
brands such as Coca Cola, Microsoft, Disney
and Ford actually lost brand value (Interbrand Press
Release: New York, July 22, 2004).
Branding has evolved over the years and has now become
a common term used in marketing. Branding is essentially
imprinting a company's name or slogan into the minds of
potential customers. Companies have to decide what
their brand stands for, and communicate that value
proposition effectively and repeatedly. It's not good
enough to just run a quality business-Companies got to let
everyone know what sets it apart from the pack.
In "Advanced Brand Management", Paul Temporal points
out that your image is not your brand. Modernizing your
visual image (logo, design, collaterals) won't effect a
change in brand VALUES so the heart of the brand
remains the same -- what it stands for or its personality.
In other words, branding isn't a surface thing. Fiddling with
one's logo and webpage is superficial. It won't change
consumer perceptions of quality, service and the other
intangibles that make them love the Company's product /
services and keep coming back for more.
People tend to mix up Corporate Branding, Corporate
Identity and Corporate Image. They have different
connotations.
Corporate Identity refers to visual expressions or look
(Name, logo, house colours, tagline...etc.) while
Corporate Image is Public's perception of company,
whether intended or not. Corporate Branding is a strategic
business process which is planned, focused & integrated
throughout organization. Corporate Brand establishes
direction, leadership, clarity of
purpose, inspiration & energy. It is
the heart & soul of entity from
w h i c h a l l o u t w a r d
expressions emanate.
Brand Identity
Brand identity is the visual
expression of a brand. It's
e v e r y t h i n g f r o m t h e
Company's logo to its business
card and letterhead to the
website. In fact, brand identity
includes:
Logo / Marks; Stationery; Brochures; Packaging; Website;
Signage; Livery (fleet); Uniforms.
A company's brand identity should be unique to its
organisation. Just like the logo, it reflects the business
goals, products / services, vision and personality.
A brand identity should reflect a company's personality /
values; Generate trust and credibility; Differentiate the
business (product/service) from others; Enable effective,
The World’s 10 Most
Valuable Brands
A newcomer, Toyota, breaks into the Top 10, while
big-name consumer brands come under attack.
RANK BRAND 2004 BRAND VALUE
(BILLIONS)
COCA-COLA
MICROSOFT
IBM
GE
INTEL
DISNEY
McDONALD’S
NOKIA
TOYOTA
MARLBORO

efficient marketing across diverse channels; Add value to
your organisation.
Effective Tagline: key to building strong brand
Taglines are generally descriptive phrases that
accompany a business name. E.g. Nike Just do it or ICICI
Hum Hein Na. (I am there).
They help explain what one's business does or create a
feeling associated with it.
Ideally, taglines should be
simple and memorable.
Branding Blunders
The fact that branding is a
complex exercise is evident
from the fact that even the
world's top brand-Coke can
also get it wrong. Colin Bates
in "Brand Naming: Even Coke
can get it wrong" mentions
that when Coke launched in
China they naturally wanted
to retain the 'Coca-Cola'
name. There first attempt in
Chinese was 'Ke-kou-ke-la'
which had the benefit of
sounding similar, but
unfortunately meant "bite the
wax tadpole" or "female horse
stuffed with wax" depending
on the dialect. Coke's second
brand naming attempt was
more effective, using a
different set of characters to
present "ko-kou-ko-le," which can be loosely translated as
"happiness in the mouth."
Coke isn't the only company to have problems in brand
naming in new markets:
In Taiwan, the translation of the Pepsi slogan "Come alive
with the Pepsi Generation" came out as "Pepsi will bring
your ancestors back from the dead."
Also in Chinese, the Kentucky Fried Chicken slogan "finger-
lickin' good" came out as "eat your fingers off." And there
have been disasters in other markets too. When General
Motors introduced the Chevy Nova in South America, it
was apparently unaware that "no va" means "it won't go."
Ford had a similar problem in Brazil when the Pinto
flopped. The company found out that Pinto was Brazilian
slang for "tiny male genitals". Ford pulled all the
nameplates off and substituted Corcel, which means horse.
How Are Brands Created?
Branding by "Personal
Experience"
This creates the strongest bond
between a Company's
customers and its business and
products. Your customer
service, front and back end
offers must be of high quality,
in order to create exceptional
"Personal Experience". This
starts a virtuous cycle.
Exceptional "Personal
Experiences" lead to general
public and market acclaim
spread by word of mouth and
other publicity. In turn, this
feeds into a still stronger
Brand, starting the cycle all
over again. However, always
remember it is easier to create
a negative Brand than it is to
create a positive one, by
offering low or poor quality and value products, services
and customer support.
Branding by "Indirect Experience"
For many direct marketers, "Personal Experience"
Branding is difficult and not easily achieved because sales
that lead to "Personal Experience" are not easily made.
The "Indirect Experience" strategy relies on creating a
consistent, repeating association to the product in your
31

prospects mind. Marketers use a variety of tactics to
achieve this aim.
• Jingles in audio / visual media
• Using Slogans
• Advertising through classifieds, display, press
OIL's branding issues
32
releases, and give away products and information
• Sponsorship of media, cultural, sporting and other
events
A hundred years of legacy, an amazing journey from
private ownership to nationalization and recent thoughts
on realizing IPOs makes OIL's story an intriguing one.
Although OIL has a simple yet striking logo, the
Company's brand image needs to be worked at. In any
case compared to FMCG sector, E&P companies have a
different positioning. However, with the aggressive
growth plans for doubling production in a few years,
seeking vertical integration, forming strategic alliances to
exploring overseas for equity oil, a strong brand image
would facilitate OIL's long term growth plans.
Need of an appropriate tag line, a catchy jingle, corporate
theme song, dress code for employees are some of the
many issues that need to be discussed by the corporate
think tank. These could be complex issues that would
require lot of brainstorming since we are not dealing with
a new organization but one that has inherited a past that
traverses three centuries.
Epilogue
The world's most powerful brand has always been Lord
Jesus Christ. In fact the cross is undoubtedly the most
powerful symbol in the world. It has lasted over 2000
years. It is a very difficult scenario for Corporate Houses,
where the forces of a highly sensitive market and the all
pervading influences of media can create or destroy
apparently strong brand image with consummate ease.
The Cokes, McDonalds, IBMs, Nikes can never take its
image as granted. It takes just one wrong step and an
adverse story in the media to tarnish a Company's /
product's image while it takes years of consistent good
work to create a long lasting and powerful brand name.
Experts opine that the new millennium will be dictated by
the markets. An effective brand image therefore is a must
for Corporate Houses to consistently draw the attention of
its current and potential customers.
**********

Books for the bookworms...
Based on common sense and practicality this book is full of examples that Managers will identify with and relate to.
-Sumantra Ghosal, Gita Piramal and Christopher A. Bartlett
The Book looks at what Companies in India must do to rank amongst the best in their Strategy, Organisation and Management
Quotations
The Feiner points of Leadership
-Michael Feiner
Managing Radical Change
Change is the law of life. And those who look
only to the past or present are certain to miss the
future.
The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present.
The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the
occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.
Abraham Lincoln...
Small opportunities are often
the beginning of great enterprises.
Demosthenes...
It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure,
to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer
meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting,
for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.
Alan Cohen...
Feed Back
We await your comments & feedback at pr@oil.delhi.nic.in
These Articles are personal views of the writers and do not reflect OIL's Management thoughts.

Petrotech 2005
Petrotech 2005 ... the 6th in the series of prestigious international Oil & gas Conference and
Exhibition was held from 16th to 19th January 2005 at New Delhi. The theme of the event was
"Value from Hydrocarbons - Advances in Science and Technology." The four day conference
and exhibition was well attended. The plethora of issues discussed during the Petrotech make
very absorbing reading. Oil India Limited was well represented in the conference and the stall
put up at the exhibition drew large crowds and went on to bag the third prize.
Designed & Printed for Oil India Limted by
United Advertising & Marketing Services
80/42, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi- 110 017 Tel.: 26683792, 26687191
E-mail: delhi-united@dishnetdsl.net
Published by Corporate Communication Department
OIL INDIA LIMTED
5, Sikandra Road, New Delhi - 110 001 Tel.: 23074263-74
website: www.oilindia.nic.in

Synergyvol 2 issue2

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