Sanjay Kumar to Lead Petronet LNG as CEO in 2027

GAIL (India) Ltd’s Director (Marketing) Sanjay Kumar will take over as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Petronet LNG Ltd on May 13, 2027. Kumar, who has been serving as Director (Marketing) at GAIL since mid-June 2023, will succeed the current CEO, whose term ends on the same date. The 59-year-old executive brings over 35 years of experience in the natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) value chain, including a degree from IIT Kharagpur and an MBA.

Petronet LNG, India’s largest gas importer, operates the country’s biggest LNG import terminal at Dahej in Gujarat and another terminal at Kochi in Kerala. The company is currently expanding its regasification capacity and pursuing projects such as a greenfield LNG terminal on the east coast and a petrochemicals project at Dahej. Petronet LNG handles around 74% of India’s LNG imports and accounts for approximately 34% of the country’s gas supplies.

The appointment comes as India aims to increase the share of natural gas in its energy mix. Petronet LNG’s Dahej terminal plays a crucial role in meeting the country’s demand for imported natural gas. The company currently has 27.5 million tonnes per year (MMTPA) of regasification capacity, with 22.5 MMTPA at Dahej and 5 MMTPA at Kochi. Kumar’s five-year term as CEO will oversee these expansion plans and the company’s role in India’s energy transition.

Petronet LNG is jointly owned by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), GAIL, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), each holding a 12.5% stake. The heads of these four oil companies also serve on Petronet LNG’s board, highlighting the strategic importance of the company in India’s energy sector.