Dr. Rabi Narayan Bastia
Dr. Rabi Bastia is a reputed personality in the energy sector whose endeavour has been significant to put India into international oil & gas map. After heading the exploration group of Reliance for more than 16 years he has currently taken up some very distinguished and challenging assignments both in India and abroad. Besides his current position as President, Oilmax, he holds the Chairmanship of Masirah Oil Limited, Oman which has made the breakthrough discovery in Oman Eastern offshore for the first time. He also holds the Directorship in Asian Oilfields Services, India and other international board positions such as TIW Pvt. Equity.
He did his post-graduation in Petroleum Exploration from Norwegian Technological University, Norway and obtained his Doctoral degree in Geology from IIT, Kharagpur. He has been awarded D.Sc. for the first time in the field of Petroleum research in India from ISMU, Dhanbad which was highly applauded by Alberta University, Canada and Oklahoma University, USA. He has been serving the Indian petroleum industry for about three decades in different capacities with distinction.
Dr. Bastia’s contribution in exploring for hydrocarbons in the deep water regions of India is commendable. He has provided a high level of leadership in directing and implementing several major exploration programs in the deep-water regions of the east coast of India leading to major hydrocarbon discoveries including the world’s largest gas discovery of 2002 in Krishna Godavari along with 54 more in other basins like Mahanadi and Cauvery offshore. Most recent discoveries in Cambay are significant milestones to his contributions in the field of oil exploration. He is also the proud holder of the world record of largest number of mineral discoveries.
In recognition to this outstanding contribution in the field of Science and Engineering the Government of India awarded him National Mineral Award in the year 2003 and conferred him the “Padmashree”, one of India’s highest civilian awards in the year 2007. In the same year, he has also been awarded “Infraline Service to Nation Award in Energy Excellence”. His other significant credentials include “Who’s Who in the World” in the year 2008 and “Top 100 Educators – 2009” in the arena of scientific research by IBC, Cambridge, England. In 2017 he has been conferred with the “Bharat Jyoti Award” for contribution in the field of energy. He has been awarded the prestigious “Distinguished Alumnus” from IIT Kharagpur during 2022.
Dr. Bastia has also contributed significantly to the exploration and utilization of natural hydrogen, or “white hydrogen” in India. He has highlighted India’s unique geological settings, such as stable cratons, deep sedimentary basins, and extensive fault systems, which are ideal for hydrogen production through processes like serpentinization and radiolysis. His efforts have positioned India to play a leading role in the global shift towards greener energy alternatives by promoting the potential of white hydrogen as a sustainable energy source.
Besides his industry assignments, he has actively pursued some research projects in the field of oil exploration with Stanford University & University of Utah, USA and Norwegian Technological University, Norway. He is currently an Adjunct Professor in ISM Dhanbad. Very recently he features in the list of “100 Top IITians” who have contributed significantly to India’s growth. He has authored the reference books titled Geologic Settings and Petroleum Systems of India’s East Coast Offshore Basins: Concepts and Applications, Basin Evolution and Petroleum Prospectivity of the Continental Margins of India” (published by Elsevier) and ATLAS: A Ready Reckoner for Decoding Hydrocarbon Traps (published by Technology Publications).
