In recognition of his stellar guidance in IndianOil’s path breaking initiatives aimed at commercialisation of Hydrogen energy in the country, Dr. RK Malhotra, Director (R&D), has been chosen for the Rudolph A. Erren Award for the year 2012 by the International Association for Hydrogen Energy (IAHE).

IndianOil is the nodal agency of the Indian hydrocarbon sector tasked with ushering in Hydrogen fuel economy in the country.The award is given by IAHE to recognise leadership in the Thermochemical area dealing with heat engines and combustion, thermochemical production, facets of hydrogen transmission, distribution and storage. The IAHE recognises individuals and organisations that have made significant contribution to the cause of Hydrogen energy in five different categories such as Electrochemical, Biological, Aerospace, Thermochemical, and Superior Involvement. The award has been instituted in the memory of Mr. Rudolph Erren, a noted German scientist who developed hydrogen-fuelled motor vehicles and demonstrated its use in fleet services in the 1930s.

The award will be formally presented during the 19th World Energy Conference scheduled to be held in June 2012 at Toronto, Canada. The illustrious list of past winners of this award include noted scientists such as Mr. Victor A Golstov, Ukraine, Mr. Vladimir D. Rusanov, Russia; and blue-chip corproates such as MITI-Japan, BMW-Germany, Royal Dutch/Shell Group-Netherlands, Linde-Germany and MAN- Germany.