As the power sector opened its doors to private players back in the 1990s, Rakesh Amol saw it as an excellent career opportunity. “The motivation to pursue a full-time career in this sector came sometime in the mid-1990s. The sector, which was then predominantly the preserve of a few large public sector corporations, started opening up to the private sector and a number of multinational corporations began enhancing their local footprint to get a share of this huge market in a geography that was considered grossly power deficit,” says Amol.
An engineer from BITS Mesra, Amol obtained an MBA in finance from FMS, Delhi University. In his three-decade-long career, he has worked with a number of organisations including SPX Corporation of US, Clyde Blowers Capital, Clyde Pumps UK, Alstom Projects India, Voith Siemens Hydro, Mitsui Babcock Energy, and Mecon. In his current role as president, infrastructure and cables, KEC International, he leads KEC’s infrastructure arm comprising its cables business, RPG cables, railways and water.
Amol credits the government with introducing a slew of reforms to aid sector growth. “The growth in generation through conventional and renewable assets has been very promising. The establishment of a robust and reliable transmission network is a significant milestone for the transmission industry. The government’s attempt to achieve uniform power rates across the country through its mission of ‘one nation, one grid, one price’ is another encouraging move for the sector.” However, he adds several challenges continue to adversely affect market growth. “Right of way is the biggest challenge encumbering the transmission industry today. This not only burdens the contractor in terms of time overruns but also entails additional costs,” he notes.
Amol believes in creating value through people and engaging positively with them to accomplish bigger goals. “I truly believe in the adage that happy employees make the best and most hard-working employees, and I work towards achieving this.” He likes to watch movies (3 Idiots being his favourite), listen to music, and spend time with family and friends. Amol enjoys teaching and likes to share his experience in functional areas with management students in business schools across India. About his personal goals, Amol says, “There are a few places on my vacation wish list where I would like to go to and spend some time.”