Energy Philately at India Energy Week

 

Energy Philately Exhibit

In the global energy domain, the biggest event that happened in recent times, after the COP 29, which was held on November 2024 at Baku, Azerbaijan was India Energy Week (IEW). It was held at state-of-the-art venue Yashobhoomi, Delhi, India during February 11-14, 2025. The first and second editions of IEW were held in 2023 (Mumbai) and 2024 (Goa). Today, IEW is a crucial annual event in global energy calendar. The mega event of energy sector was held under the patronage of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India. IEW 3.0 was inaugurated by Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.

Inauguration of IEW by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India

Area wise, the India International Convention & Expo Centre (IICC), called Yashobhoomi, is India’s and Asia's largest convention and exhibition centre. It has one the biggest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) facilities of the world. A total indoor exhibition & convention area of 300,000 m2 is available for domestic and international conferences. The total area of the entire convention centre is 890,000 m2. It has in-built parking facilities capable of accommodating 34,808 vehicles (indoor 28,608, outdoor 6,200).  Yashobhoomi was inaugurated by Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, on his birthday, September 17, 2023.

The venue: Yashobhoomi

As today, India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, it has a critical role in the global energy market. India is the most populous country in the world. It is the third biggest importer as well as third largest consumer of petroleum form of energy. Unfortunately, India is heavily dependent on import for its energy security. In the year 2024, India imported crude petroleum oil and Natural gas over 85% and 47% respectively. The demand for energy for India is growing by leaps and bounds. Some of the reasons which are fuelling the Indian energy demand are economic growth, expansion of industrialization, rapid growth of urbanization, etc.   To keep the both wheels of modern life of India and Indian industry rolling, India’s electricity demand is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5% over the next decade, as per Central Electricity Authority (CEA) of India.

An environment friendly drive to the venue

Government of India has undertaken multi-pronged action plan to reduce the import dependency and moving towards self-reliance. A few of them are:

1. Import of crude petroleum oil from world’s different large suppliers – Saudi Arabia, the United States, Russia etc.  
2. Diversification of sources of oil and gas import. Sourcing from countries like Argentina, Angola, Guyana etc., looking beyond age-old suppliers of gulf, US, Russia etc.
3. Increasing the contribution of natural gas in Indian energy mix basket from existing 6.2% to 15% by 2030
4. Creation of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030
5. Production of green hydrogen of 5 million metric tonnes per annum by 2030, institutionalized   National Hydrogen Mission
6. Introduction of Production Linked Incentives (PLI) for renewable energy manufacturing
7. Expansion of gas grid across the country

And many others.

Innovation and Sustainability for future world

At IEW, various aspects of domestic advancement and collaboration with global energy businesses were displayed and demonstrated in nine distinct thematic zones:

1. Hydrogen zone

2. Biofuels zone

3. Renewable energy zone

4. LNG ecosystem zone

5. Make in India zone

6. City Gas Distribution zone

7. Petrochem zone

8. Digitalization & AI zone

9. India Net Zero zone

An overwhelming response witnessed more than 700 exhibitors, from different parts of the world to converge at IEW.

Energy Philately at IEW: 

Anurag Sinha, Executive Director (yellow jacket) and other senior executives from Engineers India Ltd.

Visitors to Hall Number 2, Make in India zone (out of 9 thematic zones) of Engineers India Ltd. (EIL), of the India Energy Week encountered an unexpected yet captivating display - Energy Philately.

A Process Engineer from Technip Energy with others

Chris from Oklahoma, US

Philately, the study and collection of postage stamps, has fascinated enthusiasts since the first postage stamp was issued in Great Britain in 1840. 

Dr. Pankaj Sharma, PPAC, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, India

Energy Philately is a specialized segment that focuses on stamps showcasing various aspects of the energy sector, including oil and gas, renewable energy, energy conservation, and environmental themes.  

Fabian from Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority, Tanzania

This meticulously curated exhibit presented a visual narrative of the energy industry, beginning with geological surveys—depicted through land, underwater, and aerial exploration stamps. It then explored key aspects of oil and gas exploration, showcasing stamps featuring drill bits, jack pumps, and refinery operations, as well as tributes to scientific pioneers like Dmitri Mendeleev, whose Periodic Table remains fundamental to petrochemical advancements.  

Another Dmitry, from Russia, in real life!

The exhibit included historically significant energy-themed stamps from across the world, such as:  

1. Centenary of the U.S. oil industry (1859-1959)

2. Centenary of the Indian petroleum industry (1889-1989)  

3. The world’s oldest operational refinery at Digboi, Assam, India (120+ years)  

4. India’s first refinery post-independence at Guwahati, Assam, India (1962)  

5. The world’s largest single-location refinery at Jamnagar  

Energy experts from Italy

The natural gas sector was also well represented, featuring stamps highlighting milestones such as RasGas of Qatar, LNG16/GNL16 (16th Conference) in Algeria, and India's LNG terminal at Hazira, Gujarat.  

Kazunori from Japan

The global energy industry’s vast reach was reflected through stamps issued on major international oil and gas corporations, including Petrobras (Brazil), Petroleos Mexicanos (Mexico), Petroleo en Chile (Chile), Nederlandse Antillen (Netherlands Antilles), and PDVSA (Venezuela). 

Sujoy Choudhury (in red tie), former Director Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. 

Energy Management students from NTPC School of Business, India

India’s leading petroleum enterprises - ONGC, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., and Reliance Industries Ltd., were also prominently featured.  

Executives from Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.

The power sector found representation through a commemorative stamp on Tata Power Ltd.

Kirti Vardhan Rathore, the designer of HPCL Special Cover on Energy

Nuclear energy was symbolized by the iconic ‘Atoms for Peace’ stamp, echoing the historic speech delivered by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the United Nations General Assembly on December 8, 1953.  

Bhashit Dholakia, CEO & others from IndianOil-Adani Gas Pvt. Ltd.

The exhibit concluded with a strong focus on renewable energy sources, displaying stamps dedicated to solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal power, with an overarching message of energy conservation and sustainability. 

 

A K Verma, former Managing Director ONGC Petro Additions Ltd. (OPAL)

IEW attracted over 70,000 energy professional from around the world. From such a huge gatherings, there was significant turnout throughout all four days of IEW, at the display of Energy Philately. 

Energy experts from Abu Dhabi

Energy professionals from both international and domestic sectors including delegates, policymakers, and students, visited and enjoyed the beauty and charm of unique Energy Philately. 

Pankaj Srivastava, senior executive from HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL), India

Sagar Sen, a senior executive from Coal India Ltd.

The footfalls at Energy Philately were by who’s who of global energy canvas.

 

Energy experts from Bechtel and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (Ali Sajid Husain)

There were experts from USA, Russia, Tanzania, Italy, Abu Dhabi etc. They represented various energy companies and energy service sectors viz. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Engineers India Ltd., Mahanagar Gas Ltd., IndianOil-Adani Gas Pvt. Ltd.,  Technip Energies, Bechtel, etc. 

Dr. Manas Das (right), senior executive from Mahanagar Gas Ltd., India

A visitor who spent lot of time

He must have found something interesting!

Anmol, a Creative Director from a media house found it interesting

Another attentive visitor

Rank wise they ranged from students of energy management from premium management institutes to head honchos of the corporate world – Managing Directors, Executive Directors, Presidents, Vice Presidents etc.  

The Exhibitor

This remarkable exhibition was just a glimpse into the extensive collection of Kumar Biswas, a dedicated Energy Philatelist and a member of the Petroleum Philatelic Society International, U.K. (https://ppsi.org.uk/). His collection serves as a unique testament to the intersection of energy, history, and philately, offering an insightful perspective on the evolution of the global energy landscape. 

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Petroleum Philatelic Society International (PPSI) - Golden Jubilee

Commemorative Cover of Golden Jubilee of PPSI

Since 1974, the Petroleum Philatelic Society International (PPSI) has been dedicated to a unique mission: uniting philatelists from around the world who share a specialized interest in the petroleum industry. This journey began as a humble initiative to connect collectors and enthusiasts, while creating an invaluable collection of petroleum-themed stamps issued globally.

In its early years, PPSI collaborated with ‘Les Amis du Pétrole’ (The Friends of Petroleum), an international organization headquartered in Paris, France. This organization collected various petroleum-related memorabilia, including philatelic materials. However, over time, Les Amis du Pétrole ceased operations, and PPSI became primary advocate for petroleum philately.

PPSI's goal is to bring together petroleum philatelists worldwide, transcending geographic boundaries to create a common platform for collecting, studying, documenting, and celebrating the evolution of the petroleum industry. The society members’ topical collection covers all aspects of the petroleum, oil, natural gas, and petrochemical industries, as reflected in postage stamps and allied materials. Petroleum stamps depict critical elements of the industry, such as prospecting, exploration, production, refining, storage, multimodal transportation, research and development, retail marketing, and the vital role of end-users.

Congratulation from the President, PPSI

The task of collecting, validating, and cataloguing petroleum stamps worldwide is monumental. The numbers are far greater, representing a wide array of themes and historical moments within the industry.

According to data compiled by Petroleum Stamps of the World (PSW), over 7,400 petroleum-themed stamps from 280 countries have been meticulously catalogued. Among these, 6,136 stamps are considered primary issues, while the remaining are listed as variants. Stamps classified as variants include those with slight differences from primary issues, such as variations in perforation, watermark, over-print, tête-bêche formats, colour etc.

As per available records, the earliest petroleum-themed postage stamp was issued by Newfoundland on June 24, 1897. It is a large island within the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, off the eastern coast of the North American mainland.

The decade of 1960s saw a significant increase in petroleum stamps, with over 1,000 such stamps issued worldwide. Another notable period was from 2000 to 2009, during which 1,294 petroleum-themed stamps were released globally.

Source: Petro-Philatelist, Vol. 45, No. 3, Whole No. 178, Autumn 2024

To give an idea of this diversity, here are examples of number of petroleum stamps issued (including variants), so far, by top 10 countries around the globe:

Source: Petro-Philatelist, Vol. 45, No. 3, Whole No. 178, Autumn 2024

The global petroleum industry is commonly divided into three major categories based on business activities:

1. Upstream – Encompasses prospecting, exploration, drilling, and production of crude petroleum oil and natural gas.

2. Midstream – Involves the transportation and storage of crude petroleum oil and natural gas.

3. Downstream – Focuses on refining, petrochemical processing, and marketing activities.

Petroleum stamps are most frequently themed around drilling operations, covering onshore, semi-submersible, offshore, deep-water, and ultra-deep-water drilling. To date, 2,386 stamps have been issued on upstream activities, with 1,767 specifically depicting drilling.

Company logos also feature prominently, with 1,201 petroleum stamps showcasing the logos of oil companies. Additionally, various influential figures—from scientists and geologists to researchers, entrepreneurs, politicians, and business leaders—have been honored on petroleum stamps, reflecting the industry’s broad impact.

Source: Petro-Philatelist, Vol. 45, No. 3, Whole No. 178, Autumn 2024

The exact count (still counting) of petroleum stamps released globally is left to the imagination of our readers, underscoring the vastness and intrigue of this specialized field of philately.

President, PPSI Speaks

The Petroleum Philatelic Society International (PPSI) is a study unit of the respected American Topical Association and an Affiliate (No. 170) of the American Philatelic Society since 1988. This partnership has fostered a mutually enriching relationship, benefiting members across all three organizations. Currently, PPSI has around 1,000 registered members from nearly 50 countries, a diverse group representing a broad range of regions, cultures, and roles within the petroleum industry. Some members come from oil-rich nations, while others represent countries heavily dependent on petroleum imports, yet all are united by a shared passion for petroleum-themed philately. It has members from all continents barring Africa and Australasia.

Among PPSI’s members there are seasoned professionals in petroleum, including engineers, esteemed geologists, and downstream business experts, as well as newcomers to the field, drawn together by the unique allure of petroleum philately. This diversity exemplifies “unity in diversity,” with each member contributing to the rich tapestry of PPSI through their collections, expertise, and enthusiasm.

PPSI Leadership

The Board of PPSI includes:

• Anthony Curiale – President, USA
• Steve Fraser – Vice-President and Editor of Petroleum Stamps of the World (PSW) Catalog and PPSI website, U.K.
• Michael Hauck - Vice President and Editor of Petro-Philatelist, Germany
• Hugo Vargas – Treasurer, U.K.

Editor introducing the author through Petro-Philatelist.

Milestones of PPSI

PPSI has achieved several noteworthy milestones:

1. Certification Committee Milestone – The publication of the 100th Certification Committee Report.

2. 9th Edition of the Petroleum Stamps of the World (PSW) Catalog – A sought-after resource for collectors worldwide.

3. The Petro-Philatelist – This award-winning quarterly newsletter is cherished by readers globally for its engaging content and industry insights.

In a fortuitous turn of events, PPSI's golden jubilee coincided with the release of its Certificate Committee's landmark 100th report.

Petro-Philatelist carried a story on Indian Oil Ltd.'s refinery at Panipat, penned by the author.

In 2024, PPSI celebrated its remarkable 50th anniversary (1974-2024) in the realm of petroleum philately. To commemorate this milestone, a special cover was issued on August 27, 2024, designed by the renowned cachet artist Chris Lazaroff of Simpsonville, S.C., known for his unique passion for attending first-day stamp ceremonies. Lazaroff attended his first in 1982 at the APS Stampshow in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and impressively marked his 50th state at the Yellowstone National Park dedication in 2016.

The 50th Anniversary Cover of PPSI

The exclusive cacheted cover is adorned with striking imagery: oil rigs and jack pumps set against a world map to symbolize the global network of petroleum. The cover features a historic 4-cent U.S. postage stamp commemorating the centennial of America’s first commercial oil well, drilled by Edwin Drake near Titusville, Pennsylvania, on August 27, 1859. 

Source: Internet

While issuing this stamp on August 27, 1959, Postmaster General Arthur Summerfield had commented: 

“The American people have great reason to be indebted to this industry. It has supplied most of the power that has made the American standard of living possible.”

(Source: Internet)

A total of 115,715,000 of these stamps were printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. PPSI’s anniversary cover which was cancelled in Titusville, resonates the legacy of petroleum philately.

At the heart of the Petroleum Philatelic Society International (PPSI) lies a philosophy grounded in shared passion, global connection, and unwavering dedication to petroleum philately. For over five decades, PPSI has served as a unifying force, drawing together enthusiasts and professionals worldwide who appreciate the rich stories captured in petroleum-themed stamps. As PPSI looks to the future, it remains committed to inspiring, educating, and celebrating the remarkable legacy of the petroleum industry through the unique lens of philately.

Webliography:

1. https://www.ppsi.org.uk/files/pswcountryselect.php
2. https://www.linns.com/news/us-stamps-postal-history/2016/june/cachetmaker-lazaroff-50-ceremonies-50-states.html

Disclaimer:

The noble objective of this blog, is to promote the hobby of philately through images of stamps, a few pictures and related narration. The scans, featured in this blogpost are mine while others (sourced from internet) are properties of their respective owners. No intention to infringe any type of copyright. 

The information provided in the article is for general informational purposes only. All information is provided in good faith. This is only for sharing of knowledge of philately with philatelist fraternity of the world. No commercial or political angle, whatsoever, is involved. This is not a historical document. Apologies in advance, should there be any inadvertent error. Under no circumstances, I shall have any liability for reliance on any information provided in the story.

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This was published in world wide popular philatelic e-magazine 'Ananthapuri Stamp Bulletin' January 2025 issue.

Cover page

Index page

Page no. 10

Page no. 11

Amitabh Bachchan - Autograph

 

Eighty-two years is merely a number, representing the revolutions Amitabh Bachchan has made around the Sun as a mortal on Earth. Born on October 11, 1942, in Allahabad (now known as Prayagraj), he is the son of the renowned Hindi poet Dr. Harivansh Rai Srivastav (November 27, 1907 – January 18, 2003). Dr. Rai adopted the pen name 'Bachchan,' meaning ‘child’, which eventually replaced their family name.

(Father and son; Source: Internet)

Teji Bachchan aka Tejwant Kaur, the second wife of Dr. Harivansh (his first wife was Shyama, whom he married in 1926, died of tuberculosis in 1936) was mother of Amitabh.

Source: Internet

On November 27, 2003, a commemorative postage stamp of INR 5 was issued by India Post on birth anniversary of Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Total 0.4 million stamps were printed at Calcutta Security Printers Ltd. The stamp and the First Day Cover were designed by renowned artist Sankha Samanta and the cancellation design was credited to Alka Sharma. 'Madhushala', a collection of Hindi verses, composed by him during his college days, is an asset for Hindi literature. This has been translated in several languages.

Amitabh Bachchan is affectionately known as Big B in the Indian film industry. Amitabh's journey to stardom is as remarkable as it is inspiring. Surprisingly, it was his voice that first resonated in cinema rather than his image. He lent his iconic baritone as the narrator in the Bengali film ‘Bhuban Shome’ (1969), directed by the esteemed Mrinal Sen. His acting debut came in the same year 1969 with ‘Saat Hindustani’, where he portrayed one of the seven protagonists. 

The First Day Cover, autographed by him, was cancelled at his birth-place - Lucknow

Amitabh's compelling performances in classic films, particularly in Zanjeer (1973), established him as the "Angry Young Man" of Indian cinema, propelling him to stardom after a series of setbacks. His fan base extends globally, reaching audiences in Africa, the Middle East, Russia, and the United States etc. He has captivated audiences both in India and around the world for over five decades, appearing in more than two hundred films. This incredible achievement earned him the title of "One-Man Industry", at one point in his career.

In addition to his film career, Amitabh has made a significant impact on television, notably as the host of ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, the Indian adaptation of the global hit 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' He also had a brief foray into Indian politics.

Another autographed First Day Cover, cancelled at Delhi

Throughout his illustrious career, Amitabh has received numerous accolades from both Indian and international film festivals, including four National Film Awards for Best Actor and sixteen Filmfare Awards. In 2007, he was honored with the Legion of Honour by the Government of France, further solidifying his status as a cultural icon.

Happy Birthday, Amitabh Bachchan! 

Your incredible talent and larger-than-life presence have inspired countless hearts across the globe. May this year bring you as much joy and fulfilment as you’ve given to the world through your unforgettable performances. 

Enjoy your special day!

Disclaimer:

The noble objective of this blog, is to promote the hobby of philately through images of stamps, a few pictures and related narration. The scans featured in this blogpost are mine while others (sourced from internet) are the properties of their respective owners. No intention to infringe any type of copyright. 

The information provided in the article is for general informational purposes only. All information is provided in good faith. This is only for sharing of knowledge of philately with philatelist fraternity of the world. No commercial or political angle, whatsoever, is involved. This is not a historical document. Apologies in advance, should there be any inadvertent mistake or error. Under no circumstances, I shall have any liability for reliance on any information provided in the story.

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Engineers India Limited (EIL)

Commemorative postage stamp of EIL (March 27, 2015)

India achieved independence from British rule on August 15, 1947. In the decade that followed (1947-1957), the newly formed Indian government undertook strenuous efforts to stabilize and advance the economy. Various sectors, from agriculture to heavy engineering, were targeted to foster self-reliance. The petroleum sector was no exception. At that time, Indian market was dominated by multinational corporations such as ESSO, Caltex, Burmah-Shell, etc. There was no domestic oil company to meet the demand of petroleum products of the country. Recognizing the strategic importance of the oil industry to national security, Indian government sought to dismantle the monopolistic control of these foreign entities. Consequently, significant attention was directed toward developing the Indian petroleum sector.

First Day Cover of EIL

In 1955, Keshav Dev Malviya, then the Petroleum Minister and often regarded as the father of the Indian petroleum industry, established the Oil and Gas Division within the Geological Survey of India. This division was soon reorganized into the Oil and Natural Gas Directorate under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Scientific Research. On August 14, 1956, it was elevated to the status of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission. Later it became Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd.

In August 1958, the Government of India founded Indian Refineries Limited to oversee the construction of oil refineries and pipelines in independent India. Firoz Gandhi was appointed as the first Chairman of Indian Refineries Limited, serving from 1958 to 1960.

On February 18, 1959, Oil India Private Limited was incorporated, and by 1961, it had become a joint venture between the Government of India and Burmah Oil Company Limited.

The Information Brochure of EIL postage stamp

Another significant development occurred on June 30, 1959, with the incorporation of Indian Oil Company Limited under the Companies Act of 1956. This entity was tasked with marketing petroleum products to be produced by the refineries under construction by Indian Refineries Limited, in Guwahati and Barauni. S. Nijalingappa served as its first Chairman from 1959 to 1962, and B. Arora was its first Managing Director.

To streamline operations and enhance efficiency, Indian Refineries Limited was dissolved and merged with Indian Oil Company Limited in September 1964, forming Indian Oil Corporation Limited. This merger marked the birth of a fully Indian company, aimed at integrating the supply chain and optimising management practices with refining operations. P. A. Gopalakrishnan was appointed the first Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., serving from 1964 to 1966.

In the happening era of Indian hydrocarbon sector, the Government of India emphasized the development of domestic engineering services for the petroleum sector. 

On June 27, 1964, the Government of India and Bechtel International Corporation (BIC), USA, signed a Memorandum of Agreement. This was followed by a Formation Agreement on November 20, 1964. On March 15, 1965, under the Companies Act, a private limited company named Engineers India Private Limited was established.

In the year 1996, the government of India divested approximately 6% of its shareholding in the company. By May 1967, all agreements—including the Memorandum of Agreement, the Formation Agreement, and a Technical Services Agreement between Engineers India Private Limited and Bechtel Overseas Corporation (BOC) were terminated by mutual consent. This decision, reached through negotiations involving the Government of India (GOI), BIC, and BOC. This resulted in Engineers India Private Limited becoming a wholly-owned enterprise of the Government of India, christened as Engineers India Ltd. (EIL). The establishment of Engineers India Ltd. was part of the Government of India’s strategy to foster technological innovation within the domestic hydrocarbon sector through a home-grown entity. 

In June 1967, Engineers India Ltd. entered into new agreements with BOC and BIC to formally release all employees from any liabilities, obligations, or duties under the terminated agreements.

Autographed by the then C&MD, EIL

In 1965, Engineers India Ltd., made significant progress, with its consultancy and engineering services for Madras Refinery Ltd. (now Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd., a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.). At that time, Madras Refinery Ltd. was a joint venture between the Government of India, AMOCO, and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).

In 1969, EIL entered into petrochemicals sector. It undertook aromatics and olefins projects of the then Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd., (presently Reliance Industries Ltd.) at Baroda (now Vadodara).

After establishing a strong foundation in engineering and consultancy for the petroleum industry, Engineers India Ltd. expanded into defense technology and high-tech space engineering in 1974. The company began undertaking projects with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

The momentum of Engineers India Ltd. continued to grow as it advanced through various successful and challenging projects in both terrestrial and space domains. In 1979, the company ventured into deep water, taking on the significant task of designing, fabricating, and supervising the erection of Bombay High North (BHN), which was India's largest offshore processing platform at that time.

Autographed by the then Director (Finance)

In 1970, Engineers India Ltd. embarked on its first international assignment, marking the beginning of its global expansion. Since then, EIL has experienced continuous growth and now operates global inspection offices in London, Milan, Shanghai, and Russia. The company has successfully implemented critical project assignments across a diverse range of locations, including Abu Dhabi (ADCO and GASCO), Algeria (SONATRACH), Bangladesh (Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation), Iran (PIDMCO), Kenya (Kenya Petroleum Refineries Ltd.), Kuwait (Technimont), Nigeria (Dangote Oil Refining Company), Mongolia (Mongol Refinery State Owned LLC), Oman (Oman Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company) etc.

Engineers India Ltd. made its mark in various sectors, including the fertilizer industry in 1971 and metallurgy in 1972. By 1976, the company expanded its scope to include cross-country underground pipeline projects for transporting petroleum oil and natural gas.

In 1989, Engineers India Ltd. made a significant investment in its future by establishing its own state-of-the-art Research and Development Centre in Gurugram, Haryana. This facility represented a substantial commitment of funds, technology, and talent, further strengthening EIL’s capabilities and innovative edge.

A visit to R&D Centre of EIL

Certification Engineers International Ltd. (CEIL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Engineers India Ltd. Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL) is a joint venture company among Engineers India Ltd. (EIL), National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) and Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL). It also holds 4.37% stake in Numaligarh Refinery Ltd., in Assam.

TEIL Projects Ltd., is another joint venture with Tata Projects Ltd. In international arena. Engineers India Ltd. has formed another joint venture with Jabal Dhahran of Saudi Arabia and IOT Infrastructure and Energy Ltd. of India to form Jabal EILIOT Co. Ltd. The objective is to explore the business opportunities in petroleum and infrastructure sectors in Saudi Arabia.

Training Centre of EIL, Gurugram, Haryana

As a part of celebration of glorious 50 years of service to the nation, a commemorative postage stamp of Engineers India Limited was issued by the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications & IT. The stamp was released by Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on March 27, 2015 during the event Urja Sangam 2015 organized by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The stamp and First Day Cover were designed by Brahm Prakash. The cancellation design was credited to Alka Sharma. A total 0.65 million stamps were printed at Security Printing Press, Hyderabad. 

A letter received from EIL bearing EIL stamp (used through post)

The momentum of progress by Engineers India Limited continues unabated. Today, Engineers India Limited stands as a premier design, engineering, procurement and constructions (EPC) management firm under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India. Though Engineers India Limited is providing services primarily focused on petroleum and petrochemical industries in India and abroad, it has left its indelible footprints in the other sectors like infrastructure, fertilizer, solar power, biofuels, nuclear energy, water management, waste management, to quote a few. 

Ms. Vartika Shukla at an international conference of petroleum industry

Leading this prestigious organization is Ms. Vartika Shukla, who assumed the role of Chairman and Managing Director in 2021. She is the first woman to hold this position at EIL and has been with the company for 32 years.

Ms. Vartika Shukla was putting autograph on EIL First Day Cover

Ms. Shukla earned her B. Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, in 1988. That same year, she joined EIL as a management trainee in the Process Division. Through her unwavering dedication, commitment, hard work, and exceptional leadership, she has ascended from her initial trainee role to the esteemed position of Chairman and Managing Director.

Proud display of collection

In recognition of her significant contributions to both the industry and to the nation, she has received several prestigious awards, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT Kanpur (2021), the Woman Executive Award from PETROFED, the SCOPE Excellence Award, and the MoP&NG Innovation Award, among others. 

Autographed by Ms. Vartika Shukla

Under her able leadership, Engineers India Limited continues to march ahead. It has emerged one of the leading EPC companies in South Asia. This year (2024), this Navratna public sector undertaking is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee (60 years) of serving the nation. Many more miles to go for this amazing organization.

Bibliography:

https://engineersindia.com/

https://cpcl.co.in/

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/engineers-india-ltd/infocompanyhistory/companyid-4582.cms

https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=117778

Acknowledgement: Ms. Vartika Shukla, C&MD, Engineers India Limited

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Disclaimer:

The noble objective of this blog, is to promote the hobby of philately through images of stamps, a few pictures and related narration. The scans of a few stamps, featured in this blogpost are mine while others (sourced from internet) are properties of their respective owners. No intention to infringe any type of copyright. 

The information provided in the article is for general informational purposes only. All information is provided in good faith. This is only for sharing of knowledge of philately with philatelist fraternity of the world. No commercial or political angle, whatsoever, is involved. This is not a historical document. Under no circumstances, I shall have any liability for reliance on any information provided in the story.