ACITIVITIES OF SECONE SOCIETY
Background
Led by the vision of His Excellency, erstwhile Governor of Assam Late S.C. Mathur, the leading Energy sector organizations in North East region of India took an initiative and formed a society named as SECONE (Synergy for Energy-Challenges and Opportunities in North East) on 17th June, 2009. An Executive Committee was formed with Dr. P.K.Chaudhuri then Advisor to Hon’ble Chief Minister Assam on Petroleum as Chairman and Shri A.K.Saikia, then General Manager of Oil India Ltd. as Secretary with members nominated from OIL, ONGC, IOCL, NRL, GAIL (BCPL), HPCL, APGCL and AIDC. The committee sprang into action and made an elaborate plan to hold a National Conference on Energy in 2009.
 
Industry-Academia Conclave
2018: SECONE organized an ‘Industry-Academia Conclave’ between Oil India Ltd. and Gauhati University on 26th April, 2018. This was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor of G.U. and the Chief Guest was Chairman & Managing Director of OIL. Besides the participants from GU, there were participants from other institutions in and around Guwahati. There were discussions on the areas where active co-operation between industry and academia can take place and it was eventually culminated in signing an MOU between OIL and GU, to fulfill this objective.
 
Industry-Academia Conclave Industry-Academia Conclave Industry-Academia Conclave Industry-Academia Conclave
 
 
Hydrocarbon Vision-2030 for North East
2017: After the Govt of India announced “Hydrocarbon Vision-2030 for North East”, all the organizations in Hydrcarbon sector were working on it towards realization of the vision. Since there are quite a good number of retired personnel from this sector settled in Guwahati and since these personnel are endowed with vast knowledge and experience of this industry, SECONE felt prudent to have a discussion and brain-storming-session among them to take a collective view in this regard. Accordingly a “Conclave of Retired Persons from Hydrocarbon Sector on the Vision-2030” was organized by SECONE on 26th November, 2017 in Guwahati. A large number of persons took part in it. The deliberations were very good and lots of ideas evolved during the discussion. They were forwarded to the concerned organizations in this sector and this will be also formally presented in a larger forum when the Govt will take mid-term review of the vision.
 
Hydrocarbon Vision-2030 for North East Hydrocarbon Vision-2030 for North East    
 
International Conference at Agartala, Tripura in 2016
The International Conference on the theme “The Present and Future of Natural gas- challenges and opportunities for N.E. India” was held in Agartala, Tripura on 7th & 8th November, 2016. It was inaugurated by Governor of Tripura, His Excellency Tathagata Roy in presence of many dignitaries including Vice Chancellor of Tripura University. While a good number of delegates from oil and gas sector organizations in India attended the conference a large contingent of delegates from Bangladesh also took part in the conference. Besides, local students from Agartala also attended the conference. There were discussions and deliberations on the scenario for improvement of exploration and production of natural gas in N.E. India and also the needs for the regional co-operation between the organizations working in this region and those across the border in Bangladesh for the common and mutual benefits between them.
 
International Conference at Agartala, Tripura in 2016 International Conference at Agartala, Tripura in 2016
 
 
National Conference on Energy in 2015
The conference on the theme “Challenges and Opportunities of Energy Sector in North East under the Present Scenario” was held in the Assam Administrative Staff College, Guwahati on 20th June, 2015. The Chief Guest was the CMD of Oil India Ltd.and the keynote address was delivered by VC of Tezpur University. There were good many speakers both from Industry and from academia on the above theme and many important issues related to the theme particularly those relevant in the North East were discussed in the conference. It was also well attended by the participants from member organization of SECONE, Govt Officials, students and other invitees from Industry and academia.
 
Post Conference Activities during 2010 and 2011
 
 
International Conference on “Green Energy” in association with Gauhati University and University of South Africa in 2014
The conference on the theme “Green Energy & Smart Materials through Science, Technology and Management” was organized in Gauhati University Jalukbari on 21-23 Jan, 2014 in association with G.U. and University of South Africa (UNISA) .The Chief Guest of the conference was VC of Gauhati University and the keynote address was delivered by one distinguished Scientist from National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi. Besides the participation from delegates from GU and University of South Africa and other five Universities, there were active participation from various local institutions and also member organizations from SECONE. The high level technical papers dwelt on the subject how green energy and smart materials can be way of life in the society.
 
International Conference on “Green Energy” in association with Gauhati University and University of South Africa in 2014 International Conference on “Green Energy” in association with Gauhati University and University of South Africa in 2014 International Conference on “Green Energy” in association with Gauhati University and University of South Africa in 2014
 
 
National Conference on “Oil Exploration in Mizoram” in 2013
The conference on the theme “Synergy for Energy in North East with Focus on Oil Exploration in Mizoram” was held on 8th May, 2013 at Administrative Training Institute of Govt. of Mizoram, Aizawl. The Chief Guest of the conference was Hon’ble Finance Minister of Mizoram and the keynote address was delivered by Secretary Industries, Govt of Mizoram. There were presentation from OIL, ONGC, DGH, Schhimberger etc and the conference was attended by senior officials from OIL, ONGC and other oil exploration companies in India besides Govt. officials and noted academicians and students. The conference, through its deliberations, threw light on Oil exploration in logistically difficult areas like Mizoram.
 
National Conference on "Oil Exploration in Mizoram" in 2013
 
 
National Conference on Renewal Energy in 2012
The conference was held in NEDFI Convention Centre at Dispur, Guwahati on 28th April, 2012. The Chief Secretary of Assam Sri N.K. Das inaugurated this conference in presence of eminent personalities like Professor & Dr. O.K. Medhi, VC of Gauhati University and Pro- VC of Tezpur University Professor & Dr. Amarjyoti Chowdhury and Sri S.K. Srivastava, Director General of DGH, Govt of India, New Delhi. There were one Theme Session in which three Domain Experts on the subjects took part and in one Technical session speakers from Energy Departments of IIT Guwahati and Tezpur University and NEIST, Jorhat and in the other Technical Session, speakers from Ministry of new & Renewable Energy and Assam Energy Development Agency participated which were very interesting and educative. There was also a Technical Poster Session mainly participated by students and research scholars from IIT Guwahati and Tezpur University.
 
National Conference on Renewal Energy in 2012 National Conference on Renewal Energy in 2012 National Conference on Renewal Energy in 2012
 
 
Post Conference Activities during 2010 & 2011
Based on the outcome of this conference it was decided to hold similar conferences on specific subjects every 2-3 years. It was also decided to initiate some research projects on Energy which will be relevant to North East region and also institute merit scholarship to students pursuing higher studies in subjects related to Energy.

The Executive Committee then decided to hold again a National Conference on Renewable Energy during 2010-11 and attempts were made to invite renowned personnel on the subject like Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director General of TERI, Shri G.B. Pradhan Secretary of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy etc. Including the Hon’ble Minister of MNRE as keynote speakers but eventually it did not materialize. The conference planned had to be cancelled at the last moment for reasons beyond our control.
 
 
National Conference on Energy in 2009
The conference on the theme “Synergy for Energy-Challenges and Opportunities in North East” was held in ITA complex at Machkhowa in Guwahati on 11th and 12th November, 2009. The conference was inaugurated by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam Sri Tarun Gogoi and Guests of Honors were Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Hon’ble Union Minister of MNRE and Hon’ble Minister of Power and Industry of Assam Sri Pradyut Bordoloi which was attended by many senior officials from Govt. and industry.
 
National Conference on Energy in 2009 National Conference on Energy in 2009 National Conference on Energy in 2009 National Conference on Energy in 2009
 
The conference was comprised of the inaugural session, two Theme Sessions-one upstream and the other on downstream of oil & gas industry, and two Technical Sessions on some important topics of these subjects and on alternative sources of energy and also on subjects of power sector and Environment and one interactive Session apart from a Technical Poster Session. Quite a good number of participants from the industry attended this conference and also students and research scholars from universities and academic institutions. There were a good number of speakers which included a few domain experts from overseas and who had authority in their respective subjects. Overall the conference was quite successful and threw lights on many important subjects which are relevant for this region.
 
 
Conclusion
It can be seen from above that SECONE Society has been organizing these conferences at various places in North East in keeping with its objectives. Each conference had a different theme relevant to North East region. Very high level deliberations and discussions took place in these conferences. These conferences also created good platform between the industry, government and academia for co-operation and good understanding. From sharing of knowledge and dissemination of information in these conferences benefitted the students also quite a bit. The conferences were highly successful and at the end of each conference there were a few take away which the delegates took with them to their respective organizations. Thus the benefits derived from these conferences were ultimately percolated down to the society.