Buoyed by encouraging consumer response to its retail fuel outlets in India, global energy major Shell has decided to consolidate its presence in the southern part of the country as well as in the western regions. The company will set up few hundred more such outlets across the country, with a main focus on south and west, said Surinderdeep Singh, managing director and retail general manager, Shell India Marketing Private Limited.
?We have licence to open 2,000 outlets in India with no specific timeframe. We have opened 50 outlets in the last three years, mainly in south (35) and west (15). Currently, we have property to open 100 more outlets. Fifty outlets in three years is quite aggressive for us in India and we believe the same will continue in much more aggressive manner,? he said.
?Each outlet cost $1 million and we plan to open a few hundred more in the next two to three years. We want to consolidate our presence in south and west first and will spread to northern and eastern regions,? he added. ?We will set up new outlets in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Gujarat,? he said.
Singh, who was in Chennai to take part in the celebrations of Shell?s 60 years of association with Ferrari, said, ?We are growing fast in India. We will be investing 20% more during this year than 2007.?
Shell has invested over $1 billion in India over the last four years and will be investing more in future. Part of the licence conditions was to ensure 11% of all retail outlets are in low and remote access areas and the company has so far fulfilled the same. Shell has undertaken the technology transfer to build local capability to manufacture the components locally. These modern retail outlets are eco-friendly and equipped with the latest in technology and safety features.
?Our joint venture with Bharat Petroleum for the blending plant at Taloja, with Total for Hazira LNG regassification terminal capacity expansion and bitumen plant in West Bengal are progressing well.? According to Singh, ?at Shell we provide Ferrari fuel for the road. Through our close technical partnership with Ferrari over the decades, we aim to provide all our customers in India with the most advanced and technologically viable global quality fuels.?
Shell?s retail fuel outlets in India uses proprietary additives developed by its R&D team at Shell
Global Solutions.
Later speaking to FE, Mariella Mengozzi, a senior official from the communication department of Ferrari, said, ?We plan to have more Ferrari cars in India. Ferrari is currently working out strategies for India and will hear the same soon.?
