Vikas Kaushal

Mr. Vikas Kaushal is the Chairman & Managing Director of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL)- a leading State-owned Oil Marketing Company of India. Mr. Kaushal is a seasoned global leader with over three decades of experience in Energy domain. He is a Chemical Engineer and has done his MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Mr. Kaushal started his career in ICICI Limited where he worked in Project Finance and Advisory Services Division. Since 2000, he worked with leading global management consulting firm- M/s A.T. Kearney, and was a Partner with this firm for over 17 years. Mr. Kaushal was pivotal to the growth of firm’s business in India, and became its Chairman, before joining HPCL. While being part of A.T.Kearney, he had served as the Global Leader for Energy and Process Industries practice where he was responsible for the portfolio of global energy clients. Mr. Kaushal was twice elected to the Global Board of Directors of A.T.Kearney and served as the Chair of the Finance and Audit and Governance Committees of the Board. Mr. Kaushal is now spearheading the efforts to create next wave of growth for HPCL through a series of initiatives.

Session Overview

Wednesday, 5 November

12:00

Global strategy ICC Hall A 12:00 - 12:40

Long-term strategies for transforming downstream portfolios

The downstream industry is undergoing a rapid and strategic transformation, driven by evolving market dynamics, technological advancements, and shifting regulatory frameworks. Portfolio rebalancing in conjunction with increased operational efficiency and strategic investments creates pragmatic pathways to decarbonisation and profitability.

Beyond prioritising high-performing assets, visionary energy companies are combining refining and chemicals operations (a crude-to-chemicals model) to enhance operational efficiency and unleash new value streams. In addition to rationalising refining capacity in certain regions, companies are also exploring diversification into low-carbon solutions such as biofuels, renewables, hydrogen, ammonia and investing further into chemicals.

Long-term portfolio strategies, focusing on 5- and 10-year strategies, are essential to unlocking future opportunities that drive shared prosperity while advancing a resilient, low-carbon, high-growth future.

Attendee insights:

Gain insights from downstream industry CEOs on their diversification strategies and how this evolving business model enables greater investment in new industries, drives portfolio expansion and attracts new customers, clients, and products.