Courtesy: DHNS
Bangalore, Feb 8: The technology centre will deliver high-end technical studies, projects, and services for Shell across the globe, as well as supporting interests in India. The services will span upstream exploration and production activities as well as downstream refinery and chemical operations.
Shell on Tuesday announced that Bangalore would be the location for its latest technology centre. Currently, Shell has major research and development facilities in Houston (USA) and at Rijswijk, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Bangalore will be the third key location for Royal Dutch Shell technology. Royal Dutch Shell is the world’s third largest integrated oil company operating in more than 140 countries.
Shell has also invested $ 1 billion (Rs 4,350 crore) in FDI in India. The company has interests in natural gas, lubricants, LPG and automobile fuel retailing in India.
The technology centre will deliver high-end technical studies, projects, and services for Shell across the globe, as well as supporting interests in India. The services will span upstream exploration and production activities as well as downstream refinery and chemical operations.
Shell Technology India (STI) will also provide access to cutting-edge Indian talent. “This centre will commence as an equal player in Shell global technical networks, fully integrated in their work programs, said Mr Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman, Shell companies in India.
“It will be capable of producing leading-edge technical solutions to meet critical business challenges and to develop products that will be key to the future of the energy business,” said Mehta.
Recruitment on
The centre is due to open in the second half of 2006 and will move to a purpose-built campus in 2009. Recruitment has already started for the initial phase. The attraction and retention of top Indian technical talent has been a major driver in establishing STI, and the company aims to grow to over 1,000 people as quickly as the business will allow. Bangalore has been selected as the base since the city has become a centre of the country’s science and technology development and offers an inspiring environment for top talent to work and live.
The new technology centre will contribute to the oil industry knowledge infrastructure in India. It will open doors for Indian graduates to work on assignments in India and around the world.
The technology centre will look to establish close links with industry and academia. As part of this programme Shell is starting a joint project with the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur, in the area of seismic processing as well as discussing different projects with other IITs.
According to Mehta, Shell Technology India can be taken as evidence that Shell intends to be in India for the long run.