Indian Oil Corporation Limited announced that dated 10 January 2024, Shri Alok Sharma (DIN-10453982) has been appointed on the Board of IndianOil as Director (Research & Development) with effect from 16 January 2024 (afternoon). Shri Alok Sharma is a Chemical Engineer from IIT-Delhi and has also completed the Hybrid Management Program from U21 Global Singapore. He has more than 3 decades of rich experience in the downstream energy sector.

Shri Sharma has made significant contributions to the Indian refining sector in Process, Projects, and Production. Prior to his elevation as Director (Research & Development), Shri Sharma was Executive Director at Centre for High Technology under the MoP&NG, where he played a pivotal role in coordinating refining, petrochemical, and alternative energy activities. During his career in IndianOil, his various achievements inter alia include pivotal role in establishing India's First Hydrocracker Unit in Gujarat Refinery as well as Hydroprocessing lab and Resid Block at R&D Centre.

With a visionary approach to catalyze IndianOil's ambitions in Alternative Energy, he spearheaded the Research and Development endeavors in hydrogen, gasification, solar, CO2 capture, and energy storage technologies. His noteworthy achievements include the successful development of compact reforming HCNG technology, nation's first HCNG trials in Delhi, fuel cell and green hydrogen initiatives and critical contributions in 3G ethanol technology being implemented at Panipat Refinery. Shri Sharma is also a member of International Association of Hydrogen Energy (IAHE) and founder member of Hydrogen Association of India (HAI).