Petronet-LNG postpones new dir. tech decision

Petronet-LNG directors have failed to select a new director technical to replace Rajender Singh who retires on July 19.

This report learns a marathon Petronet LNG Board meeting on May 15 lasting from 2pm until early evening called to choose between GSPC LNG president Anil Joshi or Engineers India executive director Vartika Shukla was unable to reach a consensus. "Lots of complaints, even anonymous complaints have come in against Joshi," reveals a source.

"That's why the Board was unable to reach a decision." He adds: "As there was no consensus the Board will meet again to take a decision."

Only Joshi and Shukla were shortlisted from a list of candidates that appeared for interviews on April 17 that included IndianOil hopefuls Pramod Narang and K Ramu; Yashpal Singh from NTPC; OPaL president Manoj Srivastava and Petronet-LNG senior VP and DAHEJ head SB Singh. On the interview panel was oil secretary MM Kutty, Petronet-LNG managing director Prabhat Singh, IndianOil chairman Sanjiv Singh, BPCL chairman D Rajkumar and GAIL chief BC Tripathi.

Among the wilder rumours swirling around is that Rajendra Singh would be offered Joshi's position at GSPC LNG.