Kiran Kothari
Senior Manager-Biofuel Operations
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited
Early life:
I was born in the serene and spiritually rich state of Uttarakhand, India—a place known for its holiness, natural beauty, and deep cultural roots. My father served in the Indian Army, and my mother is a dedicated homemaker. Growing up in a family where many members were part of the Armed Forces, discipline and commitment naturally became a part of my DNA.
I also have a younger brother who serves in the Merchant Navy, continuing our family tradition of service and responsibility. Despite our connection to uniformed services, my family has always remained humble, grounded, and down to earth. Their values, simplicity, and strong sense of duty have shaped who I am and continue to guide me in every step of my personal and professional journey.
Career pathway:
I joined HPCL in 2010 and worked or contributed as follows:
HPCL Biofuels Ltd (HBL) (From 2010-2013): Worked for two years with HPCL’s wholly owned subsidiary, HPCL Biofuels Ltd., a sugarcane-based ethanol production unit. Spearheaded the development of the cane command area for the Sugauli Sugar Plant and established a model demonstration farm by cultivating high-yielding varieties (HYVs) and high-sucrose varieties. These initiatives significantly enhanced sugar recovery, enabling HBL to operate at optimal efficiency.
· Procurement & Project Management (From 2013-2017): Successfully managed the Procurement Modules in JDE and SAP for Engineering and Projects. Collaborated with leading engineering consultants including Engineers India Ltd (EIL), Worley Parsons, and Mecon on several strategic infrastructure projects. Key contributions include procurement management worth nearly ₹7,000 crore for prestigious cross-country pipeline projects such as the Vijayawada–Dharmapuri Pipeline, Hassan–Cherlapally Pipeline, VREEP, and Uran–Chakan–Shikrapur LPG Pipeline, ensuring timely delivery, cost optimization, and vendor performance.
· Biofuel Projects (CBG & 2G Ethanol plant from 2021- till date): Currently leading Supply Chain and Operations for HPCL’s Biofuel Projects. Established a robust and reliable biomass supply chain ecosystem for Compressed Biogas (CBG) and 2G Ethanol plants—an area where several public and private sector players continue to face challenges. This achievement has directly contributed to the operational sustainability of these next-generation green energy projects.
· Policy Engagement & Advocacy: Actively engaged in policy formulation and regulatory interactions with State Governments, the Central Government, and the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG). These contributions have played a pivotal role in shaping a conducive policy framework, thereby improving the viability and profitability of Biofuel projects and accelerating India’s transition toward clean and sustainable energy.
At present:
I am persuing, Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Energy Transition from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT), Amethi
· Specialization in Energy Transition, Renewable Energy, and Sustainable Business Models.
· Achieved GPA of 8.9 in the first year.
· Coursework includes Energy Economics, Policy & Regulation, Carbon Markets, Renewable Energy Technologies, and Supply Chain for Clean Energy.
· Actively participating in industry interactions, policy dialogues, and live projects related to decarbonization and green fuels.
Master of Science (M.Sc.) – Plant Pathology
Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology (GBPUAT), Pantnagar
· Graduated with CGPA of 8.2.
· Conducted research on crop disease management and pathogen resistance mechanisms, focusing on sustainable agricultural practices.
· Presented academic work at seminars and contributed to knowledge dissemination in plant protection and crop improvement.
AWARDS:
● Technical paper Presentation for entering into long term agreement with Farmer Producer Organization (FPOs) to establish sustainable and cost-effective biomass supply chain got selected and awarded at SOPEP.
● Secured 1st position under supply chain & logistics in Urjalekh-Technical paper writing competition conducted by EIL.
● HPCL was awarded with CII Scale awards 2024 for establishing exceptional & Innovative Biomass supply chain for CBG & 2G Projects.
● Technical paper on cost components & its optimization of supply chain of CBG business in Indian Energy Week 2024 .
Paper addressing issues of CBG Business viability aspects with solutions is awarded in TeqSPACE- Technical Paper writing competition by West Zone.
Participates in
TECHNICAL PROGRAMME | Primary Energy Supply
India is an agrarian economy with immense potential og agro-waste for sustainable energy production. Tapping this potential will make India Self-sustained in terms of Energy demand and will contribute towards Socio-economic & Environmental Development. However, efficient & effective management of agro-waste poses many challenges w.r.t Seasonal Availability, Storage, logistics challenges, Huge capex requirement for purchasing farm Machniaries, opex cost of biomass depot & lack of Govt Policies in place.
Roles of stakeholders and challenges associated:
There are 3 stakeholders associated with agro-waste supply chain as follows:
Farmers/aggregators contribute towards aggregation of agro-waste from fields and further transportation of it to the owners.
Challenges with farmers:
- 85% of farmers in India are Small and marginal & are not equipped with farm machinaries, transportation facilities.
- The narrow aggregation period & lack of economic incentives for biomass, makes it prone for stubble burning in fields.
Challenges with aggregators:
- Huge cost incurred in terms of equipment, land rentals for biomass storage, biomass insurance & firefighting arrangments is in built in the cost offered makes it unviable.
Plant Owners play crucial role in setting-up commercially viable plants.
Challenges associated with owners:
- In many parts of India, farm mechanisation is in the nascent stage so agro-waste aggregation is a challenge.
- Huge requirement of land for setting-up plant and biomass depots poses higher land rentals.
- Unproven and limited technology are available.
- Disposal of byproducts like:Fermented Organic Manure & flyash is a challenge.
- There is no price fixation/formulation mechanism in place for purchasing agro-waste & selling 2G Ethanol.
District Administartion plays a crucial role in liasioning between farmer and owners & formulating suitable policies for successful execution.
- Challenges with Dist Admin: Transfer of technologies from lab to field by creating awareness among beneficiaries & monitering the project progress with ground reality.
Potential solution:
- The allocation of barren land/Panchayati land/waste land for development of Biomass depots can reduce the storage cost to farmers/aggregators/owners which will make supply chain viable.
- The modified tractor trollies should be included in Farm Mechanisation Schemes and additional subsidy on farm equipment should be given which will motivate farmers.
- To foster the robust biomass ecosystem, Biomass pricing or benchmarking with respect to Methane content/Calorific value associated with it should also be done like in the case of Briquettes.
- From Government part, collaboration with foreign parties must be made for effective and proven Technologies suitable as per Indian Agro-climatic conditions. More investment on R & D sector.
- Conclusion:
Although biofuel business is having many challenges associated, they can still ensure a healthy environment, reduce import dependency on fossil fuels, employment generation and additional income for farmers through crop incentivisations. The Government of India must look into the sustainable production of biofuels with feasible, clear policy and financial support to make India a global champion.
