Cairn India: Private oil dynamo
Cairn India is deploying technology and human capital across the upstream, strengthening its place as the country’s leading private oil and gas firm
The Mangala Development Pipeline- the world's longest continuously insulated and heated crude-oil pipeline-is among Cairn India's standout achievements. It runs nearly 700km from Barmer, Rajasthan, to Gujarat, shipping up to 175,000 barrels a day of heavy, waxy crude from the Mangala field to the west coast's Jamnagar refining district. The project-operated by Cairn and 70% owned by it-encapsulates the company's technology-led mindset, says acting chief executive Sudhir Mathur. "We've been chasing technology as an enabler for quite some time now," he tells Petroleum Economist. "It's made a big difference to us. We've been open-minded in getting people from anywhere in the world who can help
Also in this section
5 December 2025
Mistaken assumptions around an oil bull run that never happened are a warning over the talk of a supply glut
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026






