India needs 30K managers to handle energy entities: Narendra Taneja

As the Indian energy sector grows rapidly, the country needs around 30,000 managers to handle the entities engaged in this sector, said Narendra Taneja, advisor on energy issues to government of India.

Speaking at the International Conference on Energy and Infrastructure Management at the Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University in Gandhinagar, Taneja said, "The world is looking to India as a revolutionary country and so many things are going on in this sector and we need about 30,000 skilled managers to manage it, current availability is negligible." Taneja suggested that for skilled managers, the country needs an Indian Energy Service just like Indian Administrative Service.

Energy sector, especially in renewable energy, has seen huge developments during past two years and the story will continue in the future, he said. 

The size of the Indian energy sector is around $500 billion and the country imports 80% of its crude oil requirement. Taneja suggested that India should reach a stage where it only has to import 40% of its energy requirement.

"To make the country independent from crude oil imports, Indian companies should buy equity shares in oil producing companies globally. To make India an economic super power, we have to assure our growth in energy sector," he added.

Raymond E Vickery Junior, Indo-US relationship advisor, said, "Best time for India is yet to come and the country has to gear up its activity in energy sector as energy is an important aspect of economic growth."