Satyajeet Shinde has over two decades of experience with leading city gas distribution (CGD) companies such as Indraprastha Gas, Mahanagar Gas, Sabarmati Gas, Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited and THINK Gas. As senior vice president, O&M at THINK Gas currently, he spearheads the company’s operations and maintenance business. His responsibilities include implementing new-age technologies, maintaining high equipment efficiency standards, improving customer service and safety with technical expertise to drive business success.
Given the emphasis on natural gas and its expanding reach, Shinde believes that all segments, including MS, HSD, EV and CNG, will coexist. Hydrogen, though at its early stages, holds promise. However, for the CGD segment to experience a surge in volumes, achieving greater penetration among industries is imperative.
He notes, “The decreased price competitiveness of alternative fuels in the CNG and PNG segments, coupled with increased gas purchase costs, has resulted in shrinking profit margins for CGD companies. This situation has imposed an additional burden, necessitating the optimisation of operating expenses across extensive geographical areas (GAs).
The challenge now is ensuring a robust emergency response mechanism in new GAs, educating customers about gas usage, newer technologies and safety measures, and balancing manpower and technology to maximise operational efficiency.”
The centre has set a target of achieving 15 per cent natural gas in the energy mix by 2030, which has led to greater interest and private participation in the segment. India’s energy mix will change, with natural gas and renewables playing a bigger role. With assets situated on customer premises and gas pipeline networks traversing common ROU, Shinde’s role demands the ability to remain composed in high-pressure situations, respond swiftly in emergencies and effectively manage on-site operations.
Shinde holds a BE degree in instrumentation engineering from Mumbai University. Outside of work, he likes spending time with his family, exploring new places, and going on long drives. Says Shinde: “My wife, Tanvi, was associated with Jet Airways earlier. She chose to leave her career and focus on raising our children.
She has been my pillar of strength and is the backbone of the family.”