GAIL (India) Limited’s Director (Marketing), Sanjay Kumar, has been appointed as the next Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of Petronet LNG Limited for a five-year term, effective May 13, 2027. His appointment comes at a crucial time for India’s natural gas sector, as the country focuses on expanding LNG infrastructure and increasing the share of natural gas in its energy mix.
Sanjay Kumar will succeed A. K. Singh, whose extended tenure as Petronet LNG’s chief executive is scheduled to conclude on May 13, 2027. According to the company’s regulatory filing, Petronet LNG’s board approved Kumar’s appointment at a meeting held on October 2, 2026.
Extensive Experience Across the Natural Gas Sector
Kumar brings more than 35 years of professional experience across the natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) value chain. A mechanical engineering graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, he also holds an MBA, combining technical expertise with business and commercial acumen.
He has been serving as Director (Marketing) at GAIL (India) Limited since June 2023. In this role, he has been associated with the marketing and commercial dimensions of the natural gas business, bringing extensive industry experience to one of India’s key energy enterprises.
His appointment is expected to bring considerable sector knowledge and strategic experience to Petronet LNG as the company pursues its expansion plans and responds to India’s evolving energy requirements.
Petronet LNG’s Strategic Role in India’s Energy Infrastructure
Petronet LNG is one of India’s leading LNG importers and operates major liquefied natural gas import and regasification terminals at Dahej in Gujarat and Kochi in Kerala.
The company currently has a combined regasification capacity of 27.5 million tonnes per annum (MMTPA), comprising 22.5 MMTPA at Dahej and 5 MMTPA at Kochi. According to the company, it handles approximately 74% of India’s LNG imports and accounts for around 34% of the country’s gas supplies.
These operations position Petronet LNG as a significant contributor to India’s natural gas supply chain, supporting the energy requirements of industries, power producers, and other consumers.
Expansion Plans and Future Growth Priorities
Kumar’s appointment comes as India seeks to strengthen its energy infrastructure, diversify its energy mix, and expand access to natural gas. LNG imports and regasification capacity are expected to remain important components of the country’s efforts to meet rising energy demand.
Petronet LNG is pursuing several major development initiatives, including expanding regasification capacity at its Dahej terminal, developing a greenfield LNG terminal on India’s eastern coast, and advancing a petrochemicals project at Dahej.
These projects represent important opportunities for the company to expand its infrastructure footprint and strengthen its position in India’s evolving energy market.
A Key Leadership Transition for Petronet LNG
With more than three decades of experience in the natural gas industry, Kumar will take charge at a significant stage in Petronet LNG’s development. His leadership will coincide with the company’s efforts to advance infrastructure expansion, support the growth of India’s gas market, and strengthen its long-term business capabilities.
His appointment marks an important leadership transition for Petronet LNG as it continues to play a central role in the country’s LNG import infrastructure and broader energy ecosystem.
–CXO Chronicle
