A 130-kilometre pipeline is to be built to import petroleum from Indian northern state of Meghalaya, reports UNB.
State Minister for Power and Energy Nasrul Hamid disclosed the plan while attending a function at Parbatipur oil depot in Dinajpur district to mark the inauguration of bulk fuel import from Numaligarh Refinery of Meghalaya state yesterday.
At the function Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation formally received 2,200 tonnes of diesel from the rail wagon that came from Numaligarh refinery.
Prime Minister’s Energy Advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and Indian High Commission in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla also attended the function with BPC chairman Mahmud Khan Reza in the chair.
Nasrul Hamid said the government has initiated a move to import diesel through pipeline from India to ensure uninterrupted energy supply in the northern region during the irrigation season.
“We hope this pipeline will be constructed within 2-3 years as survey, joint route verification, soil test, primary route alignment of the proposed pipeline have already been completed,” he informed the function.
Bangladesh needs to import 5.5 million metric tons of diesel while its 16 districts in the northern region need about 1.1 million tonnes.
The junior minister said about 1 (one) million tons of diesel will come through the proposed pipeline. He said that of the 130 km pipeline, 125 km will be installed in Bangladesh part while 5 km in Indian part.
Nasrul Hamid said economic development will get a boost if regional cooperation is increased. “We’ll be benefited if Nepal and Bhutan are allowed to use our Mongla seaport.”
Tawfiq Elahi Chowdhury said that both the nations will be benefited if cooperation is enhanced at the regional level.
“India will start importing bandwidth from Bangladesh from March 23. We’ve already brought electricity from India and now importing diesel,” he said, adding that such connectivity should continue.
He also thanked Indian High Commissioner for taking steps by his country to extend railway communication upto Parbatipur. l