What a country calls its vital economic interests are not the things, which enable its citizens to live, but the things, which enable it to make a move. Fuel is much more likely than wheat to be a denominator of international power. And when it comes to taking care of Indian fuel needs, there is one man - S C Tripathi, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, who is all bullish and optimistic about the recent positive growth in the sector. An Indian Administrative Services official of 1968 batch, belonging to parent cadre of Uttar Pradesh, Tripathi is one of those few individuals, who have brought a real difference to the petrol and natural gas market.

Known for his versatility and invaluable administrative skills, Tripathi has had a diverse experience in various areas of governance including Department of Mines, Department of Elementary Education and Literacy and as CMD of NALCO, to name a few. But there is one trait, which sets Tripathi apart from his peers, and that probably is his uncanny instinct of overcoming crisis and meeting the challenges headlong. A firm believer in sustainable competitive advantage of Indian oil sector, Tripathi has continuously strived for incorporating value added services, building brand identity, generating higher volumes and reaching the unserviced areas.

Tripathi, who carries with him decades of experience at the grassroots levels, is of the belief that if non-essential consumer goods like soft drinks and cosmetics can penetrate the far-flung rural markets, why can't the essential mass consumption petroleum products? And certainly he has been striving to achieve this. A man, who is always looking out for new technology, which could give oil and natural gas an edge over his competitors, Tripathi believes to overcome future competition, "It is imperative to undertake a concerted exercise at cutting down costs and improving efficiency.

Leveraging information technology for supply chain management can go a long way in achieving this," he opined recently during an interview. In fact, Tripathi has been the key figure who played pivotal role in the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project. And to take forward the process of smooth implementation of the $4.16-billion project, he along with his Pakistan counterpart recently appointed financial consultants to advise on the project structure and related technical, financial, commercial and legal matters. And "If all goes well, the Iran-India pipeline should be operational by the end of 2009," says Tripathi. Sure, with a person like Tripathi overseeing the critical mission, there are all chances that the golden chapter in meeting India's fuel needs would soon be written.