BP India to temporarily operate from Dubai

BP will temporarily manage its Indian supply and trading business from Dubai after four of its five-member team quit in the Past two months, said officials.

"This is an interim arrangement. BP Singapore is looking to implement its supply and trading strategy in India," said a BP official, who declined to be identified.

The firm is working to fill up the vacant positions, but no timeframe has been set.

"It is not clear by when a final decision on resourcing of India operations will be taken by our Singapore office," the official added.

The latest to resign was Rohit Vedhara, Regional Manager for South Asia at BP supply and trading, who left the company in end-September, the BP official said.

Asked about Vedhara's resignation, Anshul Mathur, BP India spokesman said: "As a matter of policy, we do not comment on individuals or personnel matters."

Officials at Indian state oil firms also said that BP has informed them about Vedhara's departure and that a new team has been temporarily put in place to look after operations in India.

Officials in oil firms said this arrangement is unlikely to impact BP's business. "BP regularly participates in our tenders. They mostly do it through their Singapore office, so I do not think this arrangement will have any impact on their business in India," said an official.

Dubai-based Biju Philip will support BP's Indian marketing operations for middle distillates and Jim Poletti will manage light distillates, officials said.

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