NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy companies from seven countries and three continents tonight received honors for leadership, innovation and exemplary performance at the 17(th) annual Platts Global Energy Awards, often described as the "Oscars" of energy. Eighteen awards were bestowed upon companies and individuals at the Cipriani Wall Street in lower Manhattan before an audience of 400 energy executives hailing from 15 countries.

Spain's Repsol stole the show as a triple winner: "Energy Company of the Year," one of two "Rising Star" honors and this year's newly revised "Industry Leadership-Downstream." Not since 1999 has one company won three of the program's 18 awards.

For the first time in the program's near 20-year history, and a sign of the changing face of global energy, women won two of the top honors: "CEO of the Year," awarded to Nishi Vasudeva of India's Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), and "Rising Star - Individual," awarded to Maria Victoria Zingoni, Repsol's executive managing director of downstream.

Also, Asia-Pacific's continued advancement in the global energy arena was fully evident in this year's "CEO of the Year" category, where the region accounted for nearly 75% of the finalists.

WINNERS

In its selection of Repsol for "Energy Company of the Year," the independent judges panel noted that despite its size, Spain's largest oil and gas company was not only brave and strategic, but agile and swift. It was lauded for repeatedly negotiating itself "off the brink" in challenging situations. As the judges' choice for the 2015 "Industry Leadership Award-Downstream," Repsol won praise for its standout refining margins, business savvy across the energy value chain, and for its innovations in both process and management in the upgrading of its downstream operations.

For "Rising Star-Individual," Ms. Zingoni was chosen from six other finalists. Judges said the native of Argentina impressed with her survive-and-thrive capabilities, proven in high stress and high stakes situations. They noted that even her colleagues and peers have described her as "one of the most decisive members of Repsol's top management in the last decades' two most defining moments:" the government seizure of its Argentine-based business YPF in 2012, and the company's $8.5 billion acquisition of Canadian oil company Talisman Energy in 2014.

"We congratulate Repsol and Ms. Zingoni for this impressive win and hope for their continued success," said Imogen Dillon Hatcher, president of Platts. "We'd also like to congratulate each of tonight's 2015 Platts Global Energy Awards winners, and finalists alike, for their inspiring accomplishments."

Selected from 10 other finalists, Hindustan Petroleum's Ms. Vasudeva was named "CEO of the Year," with the judges panel applauding her leadership acumen - both in clarity of vision and financial management - which helped the state-owned company deliver an increase of more than 200% in market value in Ms. Vasudeva's first year as chair and managing director. She is the first female head of a large Indian oil company and is one of just 14 women to helm a Global Fortune 500 company.

A full listing of winners is below. Find a summary of the winners and judges' rationale, titled "2015 Platts Global Energy Awards: A new Focus on Financial Oversight," in the December issue of Platts Insight and full details of the awards and judging criteria at the program's website (http://geaweb.platts.com/Winners/Winners2015).

Winners of the 2015 Platts Global Energy Awards:

Energy Company of the Year
Repsol

Breakthrough Solution of the Year
Algenol

CEO of the Year
Nishi Vasudeva, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited

Commercial Application of the Year
Caterpillar Inc.

Construction Project of the Year
Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company (YASREF)

Corporate Social Responsibility Award
Reliance Industries Limited

Engineering Project of the Year
Royal Dutch Shell

Financial Deal of the Year
First Reserve; Apex Clean Energy; Morgan Stanley Commodities Group Inc.; Gulf Power Company

Grid Edge Award - Energy Management
REstore

Industry Leadership Award - Biofuels
Honeywell UOP LLC

Industry Leadership Award - Downstream
Repsol

Industry Leadership Award - Exploration & Production
Anadarko

Industry Leadership Award - Midstream
Williams

Industry Leadership Award - Power
Bruce Power

Lifetime Achievement Award
Terry Boston, PJM Interconnection

Rising Star Award - Company
SolarReserve

Rising Star Award - Individual
Maria Victoria Zingoni, Repsol

Strategic Deal of the Year
Dynegy

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Media Contact:
Global, Americas, Asia: Kathleen Tanzy, + 1 917 331 4607, kathleen.tanzy@platts.com

SOURCE Platts

SOURCE: Platts