Bangladesh pushes for Myanmar pipeline gas as LNG option enters talks

Bangladesh is exploring gas imports from Myanmar through a pipeline as it seeks new ways to ease its growing energy crunch.

The proposal was discussed on Sunday when Myanmar Ambassador U Kyaw Soe Moe met Power Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku at the Secretariat, according to a ministry statement.

The minister said Bangladesh’s natural gas demand was rising steadily and that Dhaka was particularly interested in importing gas from Myanmar by pipeline.

The ambassador responded “positively” and also discussed the possibility of supplying Bangladesh with liquefied natural gas. The minister welcomed that proposal too.

The meeting also revived an earlier proposal to build a gas pipeline from Myanmar to Chattogram.

Tuku proposed ministerial-level talks to advance energy cooperation and said he would invite Myanmar’s power minister to Bangladesh. He also expressed willingness to visit Myanmar if necessary.

Referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent China visit, Tuku said a proposed China-Myanmar-Bangladesh corridor could gain momentum if a gas pipeline linked Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The two sides also discussed strengthening long-term trade ties and expanding energy cooperation.

Tuku said the two neighbours had many more areas for cooperation and conveyed Tarique’s “sincere interest” in deepening ties under the “Neighbour First” policy.

The Myanmar ambassador suggested reviewing the proposal at a meeting of the two countries’ joint technical committee.