PESB for 'Vikas' as next MD of BPRL
The PESB has recommended 'Vikas' (single name) as MD to run BPCL's upstream arm Bharat PetroResources (BPRL), after interviews on August 14 (2025).
ONGC chief general manager (CGM) Vikas and seven others were interviewed by video call between 3.30 and 5.30pm. Vikas was one of the names on unofficial lists circulating early this year (2025) for this job.
Industry sources said Vikas, aged 48, is ONGC's youngest CGM. He is a petroleum engineer from the Indian School of Mines in Dhanbad; a postgraduate from the University of Texas in the USA; and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad.
When the cabinet appoints him, Vikas will succeed BPRL's current MD Barnali Barua Tokhi, who retires on August 31 (2025). Vikas was listed fifth on the PESB's July 31 (2025) list of 10 candidates for these interviews.
He now handles policy, regulatory and commercial issues in ONGC's business development division. BPRL sources said Vikas is a good choice as the next MD.
"He is technically very sound, has an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and has previously worked in OVL (ONGC's overseas arm)," we are told. Moreover, "he is open and forward-looking.
He will be good for BPRL." Some say Vikas has his task cut out at BPRL.
"He will have to optimise BPRL's upstream assets; BPRL is now highly leveraged, he will have to reduce its loans; fast-track projects; and, strengthen its technical capability." Among the other candidates interviewed on August 14 (2025) were: Kamal Chopra, BPRL director finance; Sandeep Srivastava, CGM-LPG at BPCL; Dulal Halder, CGM at ONGC; Om Prakash, General Manager (GM) at ONGC; Rajeev Chak, senior GM at EIL, Om Prasad Chetry, GM at IndianOil; and Tarun Kumar Chopra, deputy GM at IndianOil.
Two non-oil sector candidates on the PESB's July 31 (2025) list did not appear for the interviews. On July 31 (2025), undersecretary Mohammad Jainuddin at the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which oversees the PESB, sent a two-page notice to oil secretary Pankaj Jain, listing ten candidates to be interviewed on August 14 (2025).
Jainuddin asked Jain to "kindly make it convenient to attend the meeting to assist the Board (PESB) in making its recommendations." BPRL holds equity in 17 blocks across India, Russia, Brazil, Mozambique, Indonesia, and the UAE.
In India, BPRL has stakes in six onshore and offshore blocks and is the joint operator with IndianOil at the UAE's Onshore Block-1. BPRL's most significant stake is 10% in Mozambique LNG's offshore Area 1 block, where it has sunk $2.3bn, with another $2.1bn earmarked over the next few years.
BPRL's producing fields are Adnoc-operated Lower Zakum in the UAE, and Rosneft-operated Taas-Yuryakh and Vankor Neft in Russia.