From Plans to Pipelines: Surendra Sharma’s Strategic Surge
- Staff Member
- Sep 10
- 6 min read
In an interview with Corporate World, Surendra Sharma — Founder & CEO of Advance Infrastructures Pvt Ltd (AIPL) — talks about his journey from on-ground execution to global leadership in the EPC sector
With over three decades of experience across oil, gas, and renewable energy infrastructure, Surendra Sharma, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Advance Infrastructures Pvt Ltd (AIPL), has built more than just projects—he has built trust, capability, and a company that reflects his unwavering commitment to quality and integrity.
Since joining AIPL in 2013, Sharma has led its transformation from a promising EPC firm to a trusted partner for India’s top PSUs and a growing force in the GCC region. Under his leadership, the company has delivered over ₹1,300 crore worth of critical projects and expanded its footprint into the UAE and Saudi Arabia—where it now collaborates with major entities like ADNOC and ENPPI. The formation of Advance Saudi Co. Ltd., a strategic joint venture with Mubarak Al Suwaiket Oil & Gas Services, marks a bold step toward supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 while remaining rooted in core values of excellence and ethics.
Whether it is executing pipeline works for Hydrocarbon, Iron Ore Slurry, Water , Ethylene, Oxo Alcohol, Black Oil Pipelines and ATF projects or bidding for large-scale pipeline and associated Mechanical, Civil, Electrical & Instrumentation works, including Telecom and SCADA systems tenders, Sharma’s vision remains consistent: to lead with integrity, scale with purpose, and inspire a new generation of EPC professionals.
In this interview with Corporate World, the industry veteran opens up about the values that have shaped AIPL, the rationale behind its international expansion, and his long-term ambition to build an institution that proves Indian EPC firms can lead on the global stage—without ever compromising on standards.
Q. You have been in the oil and gas sector for over three decades. What inspired you to embark on this career path initially, and how has your journey evolved over time?
My journey into the oil and gas sector began with a strong belief that infrastructure is the backbone of national progress. I started my career with boots on the ground, executing complex cross-country pipeline projects—first in India, then in global markets like Malaysia and Georgia. Over three decades, I’ve held senior roles from Construction Manager to Country Head across some of the world’s most challenging terrains. Founding AIPL was a natural progression—to institutionalize my learnings and create a team that could deliver world-class EPC services. From our humble beginnings, AIPL has evolved into a trusted partner for India’s top PSUs and now, a growing presence in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. My focus has always been clear: build with integrity, lead with experience, and scale with purpose.
Over the years, I have seen the power of collaboration, innovation, and resilience—values that form the core of our company’s DNA. Every little achievement or milestone of ours is a reflection of our team’s commitment to excellence and the trust our clients place in us. As the energy landscape evolves, so does our ambition—to be at the forefront of sustainable, future-ready infrastructure.
Q. What core values have guided AIPL through its transformation from a domestic player to an international EPC contractor?
At AIPL, our transformation has been powered by four core values: technical excellence, accountability, adaptability, and integrity. From the outset, I instilled a culture of “execution with ownership.” Whether we are laying a pipeline through the Western Ghats or navigating regulatory frameworks in the GCC, our teams are trained to deliver with precision and transparency. We adopted international HSE norms early on and continually invested in both human capital and machinery. Our value system emphasizes client trust, team development, and sustainable growth. It is this mindset that has allowed us to scale globally while maintaining the ethics and discipline that define AIPL.
With this form of a solid foundation, we have not only won complex, high-stakes projects but also built long-term partnerships with clients who value reliability and competence. As we expand into newer geographies and sectors, our unwavering commitment to these values remains our strongest asset.
Q. What motivated AIPL’s move into the GCC market, and how did you identify the right partners such as ENPPI and ADNOC?
My prior international experience with global players like BP (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project) and Petronas gave me confidence in AIPL’s ability to operate at global standards. The GCC, particularly UAE and Saudi Arabia, stood out due to their massive investments in pipeline and water infrastructure. We made a strategic decision to enter these markets by setting up local entities and aligning with high-caliber partners. Winning subcontracted work through ENPPI and getting technically accepted by ADNOC validated our capabilities. These partnerships were carefully chosen—based on alignment in ethics, technical vision, and long-term project flow. Today, we are executing ADNOC’s West-East Pipeline and actively bidding in KSA under our JV, Advance Saudi Co. Ltd.
Working across these geographies required focus on technical prowess, cultural understanding, regulatory agility, and an unyielding focus on quality. We invested heavily in localization, hired regional talent, and ensured that our processes met not only international benchmarks but also local expectations. Our Gulf journey is still unfolding, but the traction we’ve gained underscores our readiness to contribute meaningfully to the region’s infrastructure narrative.
Q. Tell us about the formation of Advance Saudi Co. Ltd.—what is your long term vision for this joint venture?
Our approach is deliberate and future-focused—building not just a business, but a brand that represents trust, technical excellence, and deep local engagement. Advance Saudi Co. Ltd. was established as a strategic joint venture between AIPL (India) and Mubarak Al Suwaiket Oil & Gas Services to serve the Saudi market with greater impact and alignment. As the lead partner, AIPL brings proven global expertise in project delivery, while our JV structure ensures full compliance with IKTVA and Saudization objectives.
My long-term vision is to transform Advance Saudi into a fully Saudi-compliant EPC entity, capable of delivering high-value oil, gas, and water infrastructure projects for clients such as Aramco, SWCC, and SEC. We’ve already submitted significant bids, including for Jafurah Phase-2 and Master Gas System Phase-3, and are now investing in equipment, workforce training, and local hiring to ensure our growth is both scalable and sustainable.
By combining AIPL’s technical leadership with Mubarak Al Suwaiket’s strong in-country presence, Advance Saudi is uniquely positioned to contribute meaningfully to Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 infrastructure goals. This venture is not merely about market expansion—it’s about creating enduring value in a rapidly evolving and opportunity-rich ecosystem.
Q. You’ve worked with major Indian PSUs like IOCL, GAIL, and HPCL. What’s the secret to building and maintaining long-standing trust with such institutions?
In the PSU ecosystem, trust isn’t given—it’s earned project by project, year after year. At AIPL, we built that trust by executing over ₹1,600 crore worth of critical projects for clients like IOCL, GAIL, and HPCL. From timely delivery in high-risk zones to effective stakeholder coordination, we consistently go beyond the contractual scope. I personally ensured direct involvement in key projects like the 1060 KM Dabhol-Bangalore Pipeline and the 560 km Dahej-Vijaipur line. Our transparent communication, compliance discipline, and zero-compromise approach to safety have made us not just vendors, but long-term partners in nation-building. That’s the difference that AIPL makes.
We understand PSU protocols very well – when you combine this with our engineering acumen, you get the best projects even under the most constrained timelines and challenging geographies. These experiences have shaped our execution playbook—focusing on precision planning, on-ground agility, and rigorous quality control. For us, each project is not just a contract but a contribution to India's energy security and infrastructure resilience. It’s this purpose-driven ethos that continues to guide our work and deepen our partnerships.
Q. As a Founder & CEO, what legacy do you hope to leave behind—for AIPL and for the industry at large?
I want AIPL to be remembered as an institution that rose through competence—not connections—and inspired a new generation of EPC professionals. My legacy is not just in the pipelines we’ve laid or the milestones we’ve achieved, but in the culture we’ve built: one of resilience, ethics, and relentless pursuit of excellence. I hope to leave behind a team that thinks globally, delivers fearlessly, and upholds the values we began with. For the industry, I want our journey to prove that an Indian EPC firm, born from the field, can become a global player without ever compromising on quality or integrity.
This dream has influenced every choice of ours — from the way we train our talent to the people we partner with and the values we maintain. Excellence is a habit, not an act, and I've always believed that. And when that habit is ingrained right across teams, innovation becomes second nature and leadership, a certainty. If AIPL can be a template for future homegrown companies with global aspiration, that would be the most rewarding page of all.
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