Dr Rajesh Raut is managing consultant at EAC International Consulting, leading the firm’s biofuel and chemicals practice in India. With more than 12 years of consulting experience, he advises corporates, investors, technology providers and industrial companies on market strategy, investment decisions and commercialisation. Over the past five years he has played a key role in advancing India’s compressed biogas (CBG) ecosystem. He has guided clients with market intelligence, feedstock assessment, investment feasibility, partner identification and commercialisation strategies.
The most rewarding aspect of his current role, he says, is helping clients navigate one of India’s fastest evolving industries. “Every CBG project is unique because it sits at the intersection of agriculture, waste management, energy security and the circular economy. Success depends on aligning policy, technology, feedstock and commercial realities to create solutions that are practical, bankable and scalable.” He particularly enjoys working across the value chain, bringing together diverse stakeholders and translating market complexity into strategies that create long-term value.
For Raut, India’s CBG sector has reached a critical inflection point. The policy framework has built strong momentum, but the next phase of growth will hinge on delivering bankable projects. Reliable feedstock ecosystems, project bankability, technology standardisation and viable business models will determine how quickly the sector matures, supported by collaboration between industry, financial institutions and policymakers to accelerate investment and strengthen India’s energy security.
He describes his leadership style as one built on trust, ownership and empathy. He encourages team members to develop their own hypotheses, question assumptions and take ownership rather than simply execute tasks. He believes the best ideas emerge through constructive challenge, open dialogue and the confidence to learn from experience. Equally important is empathy, creating an environment where people feel supported, grow professionally and deliver better outcomes for clients.
Away from work, he is an avid photographer and coffee enthusiast. Photography allows him to see familiar places from new perspectives while sharpening his attention to detail, a quality that complements his consulting work. He also enjoys exploring speciality coffee and is always happy to exchange perspectives on the evolving biofuel and chemicals sectors over a good cup.
