Rakesh Amol has built a career of nearly three decades across a range of industries such as power, oil and gas, and metals. He has worked at the senior management level in various organisations such as US-based SPX Corporation, Clyde Blowers Capital, Clyde Pumps, Alstom Projects, Voith Siemens Hydro, Mitsui Babcock Energy, and Mecon.
He is currently president of the infrastructure and cable division of KEC International Limited. In this role, he is responsible for incubating new businesses in the group and scaling it to a level where they become profitable. He is also chairman of the cables division of the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers Association (IEEMA).
Amol believes that the power sector will continue to transform and grow steadily. “The sector is migrating to higher transmission voltages of up to 1,200 kV. The industry is witnessing close public-private collaborations, and various mechanised and technological interventions are enabling EPC players to enhance their capabilities,” he notes. The growth, he says, can be attributed to the large investment infused by the government for network interconnectivity projects.
With respect to the key issues in the sector, Amol says that the industry faces several challenges in project execution. “Challenges such as right of way, and delays in land acquisition and the award of environment and forest clearances impact project completion. This creates an additional burden on EPC contractors by way of time and cost overruns, and fund mobilisation,” he says. The resolution of policy roadblocks will be critical for the revival of the sector, he believes.
Amol abides by the mantra of “creating a complete value chain through innovation, exploration and venturing into new geographies”, and hopes to spearhead KEC on a trajectory of growth with a focus on improving its manufacturing efficiencies. Going ahead, he expects the company’s extra high voltage product and services line to pick up momentum in terms of volumes and capacity.
Amol is a graduate from the Birla Institute of Technology and has a master’s from the Faculty of Management studies. Although he enjoys his work immensely, he escapes to the hills whenever he can. He also likes to teach when time permits and volunteers at schools for the less-privileged.