Modi-Hasina flag off High Speed Diesel consignment to Parbatipur in Bangladesh
GUWAHATI: Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina on Saturday flagged off a goodwill rail rake consignment carrying High Speed Diesel (Gas Oil) from Numaligarh Refinery Limited's Siliguri Marketing Terminal to Parbatipur storage depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) in Bangladesh.
The goodwill rail rake consignment for supply of 2,284 MT (2,736 KL) HSD is an outcome of the discussion between the two governments.
According to NRL, the present consignment is a symbolic gesture of friendship and cooperation that exists between India and Bangladesh. During the successful visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in June 2015, both India and Bangladesh welcomed the Sale-Purchase Agreement signed between NRL and BPC for construction of a pipeline from Siliguri to Parbatipur for supply of Gas Oil to Bangladesh.
It was agreed to jointly work towards implementation of this 'Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline', a 135-km pipeline project (5 km in India and 130 km in Bangladesh) with a capacity to carry 1 MMTPA from Siliguri terminal to Parbatipur depot of BPC. The export of petroleum products from India to Bangladesh is also in line with the 'Neighbourhood First Policy' of Government of India to boost bilateral trade between the two countries and sub-regional cooperation within SAARC.
Presently, Bangladesh meets its requirement of petroleum products through imports at Chittagong port. The products are subsequently transported to the rest of the country using river route. Once the NRL refinery expansion from present 3 MMTPA to 9 MMTPA is complete, India will be in a position to export petroleum products on a regular and long-term basis to Bangladesh. Prior to the construction of the pipeline, the rail rake mode of transportation of product from Siliguri to Parbatipur is also an effective mode of transport with minimum loss and pollution.
The goodwill rail rake consignment for supply of 2,284 MT (2,736 KL) HSD is an outcome of the discussion between the two governments.
According to NRL, the present consignment is a symbolic gesture of friendship and cooperation that exists between India and Bangladesh. During the successful visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in June 2015, both India and Bangladesh welcomed the Sale-Purchase Agreement signed between NRL and BPC for construction of a pipeline from Siliguri to Parbatipur for supply of Gas Oil to Bangladesh.
It was agreed to jointly work towards implementation of this 'Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline', a 135-km pipeline project (5 km in India and 130 km in Bangladesh) with a capacity to carry 1 MMTPA from Siliguri terminal to Parbatipur depot of BPC. The export of petroleum products from India to Bangladesh is also in line with the 'Neighbourhood First Policy' of Government of India to boost bilateral trade between the two countries and sub-regional cooperation within SAARC.
Presently, Bangladesh meets its requirement of petroleum products through imports at Chittagong port. The products are subsequently transported to the rest of the country using river route. Once the NRL refinery expansion from present 3 MMTPA to 9 MMTPA is complete, India will be in a position to export petroleum products on a regular and long-term basis to Bangladesh. Prior to the construction of the pipeline, the rail rake mode of transportation of product from Siliguri to Parbatipur is also an effective mode of transport with minimum loss and pollution.
