The Shell Group’s presence in India dates back about 75 years, when it began operations in the country as the pioneering oil distribution company, through Burmah Shell in 1928, an alliance between the Burmah Oil Company and Asiatic Petroleum (India). Shell returned to India in 1993 with the incorporation of Bharat Shell, a 51:49 joint venture between Shell and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. In 1996, Shell India Private Limited, a 100 per cent Shell-owned company, was incorporated

Shell’s present interests in India cover natural gas (LNG), LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), lubricants, solar energy and retail fuels. Shell is seeking to set up PMB plants in Bengal and Maharashtra to support the bitumen needs of a growing infrastructure sector in Steel Authority of India Limited, ONGC, the Jindal Group, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ford, Coal India Limited, Larsen & Toubro, Tamil Nadu Petro and Thermax.

Shell has been allowed to set up a network of 2000 petrol stations, which it is setting-up in a phased manner. For the moment, Shell is focused on developing its retail business via the organic route.