Network Expands As Shell’s Joint Venture in India Signs
New Agreements
Shell Aviation (SAV) has announced that it is expanding its
operations into 12 airports across India to provide airlines fuel
at airports located in the cities of Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Calicut,
Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore, and
Mangalore – in addition to the airports in Bangalore and
Hyderabad where it first started its operations in India in
2008.
Shell MRPL Aviation Fuels and Services Private Limited (SMA), a
joint venture between Shell and Mangalore Refinery &
Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), signed the new deals to extend its fuel
supply services to these 12 airports across India. Shell’s
entry into India via the joint venture aligns with Shell
Downstream’s selective growth strategy, which includes recent
global operational expansions at the new Dubai World Central-Al
Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, London City Airport (LCA)
in London, and Roskilde Airport in Denmark (RKE).
The aviation industry in India is growing at a remarkable rate,
and Shell is very keen to meet the demand for improved fuel
delivery in the country. “We ... hope to serve an increasing
number of customers that see value in being fuelled by
Shell,” said Sanjay Varkey, Chief Executive Officer, Shell
MRPL Aviation Fuels and Services Private Limited. “We are
committed to providing the same high quality products and services
in India that our global customers have come to expect of
Shell.”
Shell is currently the only multinational oil company with a
government license to market aviation fuels in India. It aims to
enhance operational and safety standards in India’s aviation
services industry by introducing international best practices,
operational efficiency, and pricing yransparency. Earlier
this year, Shell was named the best aviation fuel provider in the
emerging markets, including India. “Shell has contributed to
the introduction of international approaches such as Mean of Platts
Arab Gulf (MoPAG) plus Differential pricing, which provides more
transparency compared to Posted Airfield pricing,” said Peter
Mihm, Manager Fuel Procurement, Lufthansa. “We hope that this
transparency and the entrance of an additional fuel supplier would
help keep fuel prices in India at internationally competitive
levels.” James Rigney, Etihad Airways’ Chief Financial
Officer, said: “The expansion of Shell into the Indian market
promotes healthy competition and this supports Etihad’s
approach to transparent fuel procurement.”
Through SMA, customers who choose Shell will benefit from
experience beyond just the supply of aviation fuel. Shell, with its
global footprint, offers a range of innovative products and
services, including lubricants, risk marketing, CO2 trading and
alternatives to oil-based aviation fuels. In addition, Shell has
extensive experience in working with airport authorities and
stakeholders to improve overall airport safety and operating
standards, including into-plane fuelling, fuel hydrants design,
airport network planning and fuel farm systems.
“India’s aviation industry is experiencing
phenomenal growth and Shell is in a solid position to support this
growth,” said Sjoerd Post, Vice President, Shell Aviation.
“Our expanding network in India reinforces our strong focus
on India and the region.”