India pushes for setting up LPG terminal in Bangladesh

India’s petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan has arrived in Dhaka and shared with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina the details of Indian hydrocarbon infrastructure project proposals.

This includes the setting up of an LPG terminal at Chittagong by the state-owned firm.

The state minister (independent charge), after his arrival on Sunday, also discussed the ‘Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline’ for exporting liquid fuel and termed it “an important” project for both countries.

The Indian High Commission said the visit was aimed at following up on the “ambitious agenda” set by India and Bangladesh during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2015.

During the meeting, Pradhan conveyed that the India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship had become “pragmatic and mature” over the past few years.

He discussed all bilateral issues pertaining to the hydrocarbon sector.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters that she wanted more cooperation from the neighbour to help Bangladesh progress.

Pradhan referred to the supply of 2200 MT High Speed Diesel (HSD) to Bangladesh from Siliguri Marketing Terminal of Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) to Parbatipur Depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) in Bangladesh and said that India was planning to continue supply of HSD in a sustainable manner.

He noted the ongoing collaboration between companies from both countries in the hydrocarbon sector ranging from trade in petroleum products and exploration work to consultancy services.

Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the encouraging support received from her government.

During his stay in Bangladesh, Pradhan will meet Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Adviser on Energy, Power and Mineral Resources to the Prime Minister and his counterpart Nasrul Hamid.

He will witness the signing of an MoU on broad aspects of cooperation in downstream oil and gas sector opportunities in Bangladesh between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and BPC on Monday.

He will also visit Chittagong on Tuesday to witness the awarding of a contract by Eastern Refineries Ltd to Engineers India Limited (EIL) as Project Management and Consultant for its 3 MMTPA refinery expansion project.

He is being accompanied by CEOs of major Public Sector oil and gas companies and senior officials of his ministry, according to the High Commissioner.