Oil India's BN Talukdar to take over as new Director General of Hydocarbons

MUMBAI: The Indian upstream energy sector will soon get a new head for its key watchdog, as BN Talukdar, director exploration at Oil India, is poised to take charge as the new head of the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons ( DGH). It is the technical arm of the petroleum ministry and has a decisive role in many oil and gas issues. Sources in the oil ministry said the appointment has been cleared.

“The PMO has approved Talukdar’s appointment as the new DGH,” a close aide of oil minister Veerappa Moily told ET. “I have not heard this or got any formal intimation yet, I can only comment when I see my final orders,” Talukdar said.

It puts an end to speculation about the key appointment, particularly after CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta criticised the transfer of RN Choubey, the cur-rent director general, DGH, alleging that he was being eased out because of corporate pressure. Oil ministry officials, on the other hand, said that Choubey, the first bureaucrat to head the arm, had to go as proper procedure was not followed in appointing him.

Choubey was appointed during the tenure of Jaipal Reddy, who took a stern stand against Reliance Industries. Last August, a search committee headed by the petroleum secretary Vivek Rae chose BN Talukdar as Choubey’s successor at DGH.