Chevron to Invest $1 Billion in New Tech Hub for Global Energy Innovation
Chevron, the American energy powerhouse, is set to invest $1 billion in a state-of-the-art engineering and technology center in Bengaluru. This facility, named the Chevron Engineering and Innovation Excellence Center, or "The Engine," marks a significant milestone for the 145-year-old company, which boasts $200 billion in revenue. The center's mission is to advance the development of affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy solutions for the global market.
"This is a unique commitment in Chevron's history to build a world-class technology hub that will help deliver the innovations needed for the global energy transition", Akshay Sahni, the incoming head of Chevron India, said. "We want to give employees here meaningful work that allows them to be part of solving the incredible challenge of providing affordable energy while building a lower carbon future", Sahni added.
Many of Chevron's global rivals, such as Shell, BP, Saudi Aramco, and Sabic, already operate technology and digital centers in India. Shell, in particular, has made substantial investments in the country. Sahni, a mechanical engineer with a PhD from Stanford and a degree from Punjab Engineering College, brings extensive international experience to the table, having spent 26 years with Chevron in the US, Kazakhstan, Venezuela, China, Thailand, and Bangladesh.
After assuring his mother that he would return to India within two years when he first went to the US for graduate studies, he is finally fulfilling that promise by relocating to Bengaluru next month—24 years later than planned. The billion-dollar investment will be rolled out over 5-6 years, with Chevron aiming to hire 600 employees across disciplines such as mechanical, civil, petroleum, and computer science by the end of 2025. The company is finalizing a long-term lease for office space in Bellandur, Bengaluru's IT hub, with temporary facilities already in place.
The Engine will serve as a global solutions centre supporting Chevron's operations through cutting-edge work in digital technologies. "Our focus will be on establishing digital labs, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence and neural networks", Sahni said.
The work at these labs will cover a broad spectrum of activities, including the use of AI and machine learning to analyze subsurface geology—essential for pinpointing optimal locations for carbon storage and safer, more efficient drilling sites. Additionally, the labs will focus on creating digital twins of complex industrial facilities. These digital replicas will be instrumental in monitoring and optimizing global operations, ultimately contributing to a more reliable supply chain. "Everything we do will be deeply rooted in AI, machine learning, high-performance computing, and robotics", Sahni emphasized.
Robotics will also be a key focus area for The Engine. "We are already using robotics in various capacities, such as our four-legged robot 'Spot,' developed in collaboration with Boston Dynamics. This robot can navigate industrial sites, equipped with sensors and thermal cameras, to monitor equipment and identify potential issues before they become critical", Sahni said.
