Introduction
Bharat Petroleum, a Fortune Global 500 Company, is engaged in refining crude oil and marketing petroleum products, with a strong presence in both upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry.
As BPCL celebrates its golden jubilee year we are shaping the future of energy through technology, ,innovation, and sustainability. Our five-year strategic framework, Project Aspire, is built on eight pivotal pillars, categorized under two key themes:
In alignment with our commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, encompassing both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, BPCL is strategically charting a roadmap towards a sustainable and green energy transition. This forward-looking plan leverages cutting-edge technology and innovation, with a primary focus on reducing our carbon footprint and embracing the evolving landscape of energy to become an integrated energy company.
BPCL, through its startup initiative “Ankur” has been cultivating a supportive ecosystem that fosters entrepreneurship in the country, nurturing innovative ideas to fruition as vibrant startups, and generating a multiplier effect across the ecosystem. Since 2016, BPCL has supported 30 startups with grant funding of ~₹ 28 crores. As part of this journey, BPCL has recently launched the “BPCL Ankur Fund” to make equity investments in startups.
The fund is now inviting applications from startups working on the themes below that have developed a Proof of Concept (PoC) / prototype / Minimum Viable Product (MVP), or a fully implemented solution in the Oil & Gas sector or any other industry and are now ready to expand into Oil & Gas. Startups opting for customization should factor in the necessary adaptation effort in their funding requirements.
Themes
Applications for the "Emerge" cohort are invited under the following two themes:
THEME 1: Energy Efficiency
Bharat Petroleum’s refineries at Mumbai, Kochi and Bina have a combined refining capacity of around 35.3 MMTPA. Its marketing infrastructure includes a network of installations, depots, energy stations, aviation service stations and LPG distributors.
With substantial energy consumption across its value chain—from exploration and production to refining and transportation—the oil and gas sector is inherently energy-intensive. This energy usage has a significant impact on the environment and results in high operating expenses.
We are now looking for potential startups providing process improvement, waste heat recovery and energy recycling solutions across the oil and gas industry (refining & marketing).
Innovative solutions to improve energy efficiency across the Oil & Gas Industry (refining & marketing), various technologies, and platforms that may reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
- PROCESS IMPROVEMENT SOLUTIONS - Innovations that enhance sustainability and productivity, optimize energy usage, and reduce environmental impact while aligning with broader ESG principles. Examples - Predictive maintenance of equipment, AI powered energy management systems, Storage & terminal optimization, Pipeline efficiency enhancement, Heat transfer optimization, Advance process control & process optimization, Advanced Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in Operations etc.
- WASTE HEAT RECOVERY AND ENERGY RECYCLING - Solutions capturing and repurposing unused heat energy in various processes to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support sustainability goals. Examples - AI and IoT-Enabled Smart Waste Heat Recovery Solutions, Energy-Efficient Equipment etc.
THEME 2: Innovation in City Gas Distribution
The Gas Business unit of BPCL is working towards India’s transition to a gas-based economy. BPCL is a key player in India's City Gas Distribution (CGD) sector, supplying Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to domestic, industrial, and commercial consumers.
BPCL continues its journey to strengthen its position by developing the ecosystem across the gas value chain, right from sourcing to the end consumer. On the demand side, the focus is on establishing and expanding CGD networks to meet the gas demands of domestic, retail, commercial and industrial customers.
BPCL has commissioned over 2300 CNG outlets, meeting customer demand. BPCL is rapidly expanding its CGD infrastructure across multiple regions under the exclusivity granted by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). To meet this goal, BPCL is establishing strategic partnerships to develop and operate CBG plants, supporting its net-zero goals in line with the government’s Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) Blending Obligation mandates.
BPCL is expanding its PNG business to provide a cleaner and more efficient fuel alternative for domestic, commercial, and industrial consumers. Through its CGD network, BPCL ensures the reliable supply of PNG across multiple regions. BPCL has already added over 3.3 lakhs domestic PNG connections and over 100 industrial customers. The company is also investing in infrastructure and partnerships to enhance accessibility and support India's transition to a gas-based economy.
Advancing the City Gas Distribution (CGD) sector through cutting-edge technologies that enhance customer experience, operational efficiency, safety, last-mile connectivity and project execution
- COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS FOR ENHANCING THE CNG CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE - Innovative solutions to optimize and elevate the end-to-end journey for CNG consumers. Examples - Logistics optimization, End-to-end automation for CNG Stations etc.
- INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS ENHANCING LAST-MILE CONNECTIVITY FOR PNG CUSTOMERS - Developing cost-effective, reliable and scalable solutions to expand and sustain the PNG (Piped Natural Gas) customers. Examples - Smart metering & advanced monitoring, Installation technologies, Smart billing and Customer-centric digital services etc.
- SAFETY SYSTEMS FOR CGD
Pipeline Monitoring & Leak Detection Systems - Innovations leveraging acoustic technology, SCADA, IoT, or other advanced methods to improve real-time safety and leak detection. - Predictive Maintenance & Inspection Tools - Technologies that enable real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance to reduce downtime, minimize repair costs, and ensure uninterrupted operations.
- PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS - Solutions that use artificial intelligence to optimize the execution of CGD projects, ensuring faster and more efficient delivery.
Eligibility Criteria
Evaluation Process
A two-stage evaluation process will be adopted to evaluate and shortlist the startups:
- Stage 1: Screening and filtering based on eligibility criteria.
- Stage 2: Evaluation based on feasibility, innovativeness, solution market size, team credentials, etc.
The shortlisted startups will pitch to a 'Committee,' which will make the final investment decision, subject to the successful completion of due diligence and valuation.
IDBI Capital Market & Securities Ltd. (ICMS) is the consultant for this cohort.ICMS will play a key role in evaluating your proposals, assisting with due diligence, and conducting post-investment review and monitoring
Application Submission Deadline
Application Deadline: April 22nd 2025.
Applications received only through the online application process through BPCL startup website https://startup.bpcl.in will be considered for evaluation. An application must be in 'Submitted' status to be considered a final submission for evaluation purposes.
| Stages | Months |
|---|---|
| Pitching of shortlisted startups | May '25 |
| Due diligence of selected startups | June '25 |
| Final Investment Decision | July '25 |
General Guidelines:
- Applications must be submitted online through the official BPCL startup website https://startup.bpcl.in
- Applicants can download a copy of their submitted application form along with the annexures uploaded from the BPCL startup website.
Contact Information
6th Floor, IDBI TOWER, World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400 005.
Fax: 91- 22 - 2285 0785