High commissioner of India to Bangladesh H.E Pranay verma inaugurated the Liaison office of numaligarh Refinery limited in Dhaka on 11-03-24 in the presence of Mr. Bhaskar Jyoti phukan, Managing director Numaligarh Refinery limited.Also present on the occasion were Mr. Khalid Ahmed Director (O&P). Bangladesh petroleum corporation (BPC), and Mr.Md Tipu sultan,MD Meghna petroleum Ltd and senior officers of NRL. This is the first overseas office of NRL.
In his remarks, High commissioner Pranay verma said that India and Bangladesh have made unprecedented progress in advancing relation between our two countries in the last decade.one of the key manifestations of that transformation he said, is the growth in bilateral trade and economic engagement and connectivity links.He further said that collaboration in the power & energy sector has become one of the hallmarks of this all-encompassing relationship and the friendship pipeline is a testament to the growing partnership in this important sector.
The India- Bangladesh friendship pipeline, which was jointly inaugurated by the prime minister of India and Bangladesh virtually on 18 March 2023, is the first cross -border pipeline for supply of petroleum products to Bangladesh. This pipeline has a capacity to transport one million metric Tonnes per annum (MMTPA)of high speed diesel and has been completed at a total estimated cost of over INR 375 crore of which, over INR 285 crore has been spent for construction of the Bangladesh portion of the pipeline under a government of India grant.
Since the inaugration of the pipeline last year,42 TMT of diesel with a total value of USD 34 million (INR282 crore) has been exported to Bangladesh. With the completion of the pipeline, cross -border supply of high speed diesel is being done faster and more economically with a minimal carbon footprint putting in place a sustainable, reliable and cost -effective way of transporting high speed diesel to Bangladesh.
NRL Wax know for its purity and high quality is expected to 43 countries worldwide amongst which Bangladesh is one of the importers.NRL is also setting up a poly propylene unit for production of petroleumicais as part of its ongoing mega refinery expansion project and exploring the Bangladesh market.considering its geographical proximity to the north east of India.
The setting up of NRL’s Liaison office in Bangladesh will provide a boost in facilitating the aforesaid collaborations.