DNV attended the 15th Annual India Oil & Gas Review Symposium & International Exhibition (IORS 2008) held in Mumbai, India in September. This was followed up with a successful Phast software training in Vadodara, which attracted more than 20 delegates from eight companies.

IORS has been a yearly fixture for 14 years, this year attracting more than 700 delegates and around 100 exhibitors. As a major exhibitor, DNV Energy in India showed how DNV could contribute to ‘Go first’ and ‘Go strong’. Two delegates, regional sales manager Kevin Sun and technical support engineer Irene Liu from DNV Software, manned the DNV stand and attracted attention, demonstrating DNV Software products for the oil and gas industry.

“The oil and gas industry has been instrumental in fuelling the rapid growth of the Indian economy,” says Kevin Sun. According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the oil and gas industry contributes about 45 per cent of the total energy consumption of India, the world’s fifth largest energy-consuming nation.

India is emerging as a global hub for oil refining, due to its strategic location along the delivery route from the Middle East to the East Asian and Pacific-rim markets, and to its competitive cost advantage. Statistics from IBEF show that Indian companies plan to increase their refining capacity to 242 mtpa by 2011–12 from about 149 mtpa in 2007. This is well above the projected domestic demand of 196 million tonnes, leaving the rest for export.

The fast growth in Indian industry requires larger energy inputs in all sectors, creating both challenges and opportunities inherent in the oil and gas segment. To answer the call from the Indian market, DNV Software is planning to organise a software conference in Mumbai early 2009. Advanced Safeti training will soon be offered in India.

DNV Software will continuously increase its activity in the Indian market to enlarge its global impact on a safe and sustainable future.

“The potential is indeed promising! We are keen to learn more about the market and find more opportunities in India,” says Irene Liu.