After visiting oil-rich Gulf nations, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today reached Dhaka on a three-day visit to push for Indian state-owned firm setting up a LPG terminal in Bangladesh and a pipeline to export liquid fuel.
The visit from April 17-19 “is aimed at following up on the ambitious agenda set between India and Bangladesh during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in June last year,” an official statement said here.
On arrival in Dhaka, Pradhan called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to discuss bilateral issues pertaining to the hydrocarbon sector.
He referred to the supply of 2,200 tonnes of diesel 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 High Speed Diesel (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, exploration work and consultancy services,” the statement said.
He shared details of Indian hydrocarbon infrastructure project proposals in Bangladesh, including setting up of LPG import terminal at Chittagong by IOCL and sought favourable consideration for creating win-win situation for both sides.
Pradhan also discussed the ‘Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline’ and called it an important project for both countries.
During his stay in Bangladesh, Pradhan will meet Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Adviser on Energy, Power and Mineral Resources to the Prime Minister and Nasrul Hamid, Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh.
He will tomorrow witness signing of an MoU of cooperation in downstream oil and gas sector opportunities in Bangladesh between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and BPC.
He will also visit Chittagong on Tuesday to witness award of contract by Eastern Refineries Ltd to Engineers India Limited (EIL) as Project Management and Consultant for its 3 million tonnes refinery expansion project.
The Minister had last week visited Iran, UAE and Saudi Arabia to further bilateral energy ties.