Bangladesh Eyes Gas Imports from India, Myanmar
Bangladesh is looking to import gas from neighbours India and Myanmar.
A delegation of Bangladeshi officials is visiting India and will raise this issue with Indian officials, according to Daily Sun, a Bangladeshi news outlet. The Bangladeshi delegation is taking part in a two-day energy dialogue that began in New Delhi on Monday.
During the dialogue, Bangladesh will seek natural gas import from northeastern Indian state of Tripura, concerned officials told the newspaper. Besides, Bangladesh also sought Indian support to join the four country commission to import gas from Myanmar. India, China, Thailand and Myanmar are in the commission that facilitates the countries take decision on export and import of natural resources.
During the meeting with Indian officials, Bangladesh will also discuss the tariff issue while implementing the Indo-Bangla gas pipeline initiated by Indian firm Nimaligar Refinery Ltd, Daily Star reported.
A number of Indian companies are eyeing the fast growing energy market in Bangladesh. Anil Ambani led Reliance Power has got green light to build the first phase of LNG based power plant in Bangladesh. Government of Bangladesh has granted in-principle approval for the first phase of 750 MW power plant that will be set up at Meghnaghat (Narayanganj district), around 40 km South-East of Dhaka along with the FSRU terminal at Maheshkhali Island in Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh.
Another private sector entity, Adani Gas Ltd (AGL), the natural gas distribution arm of leading Indian private sector group Adani Enterprises, is looking to expand in the household gas markets in Bangladesh and eastern India. It has proposed to build a 650-km pipeline network that will connect the Adani Group's proposed LPG terminal at Dhamra port in Odisha to Asansol and Duttapulia in West Bengal. Duttapulia is near the Indo-Bangladesh border.
In addition to private sectors firms like Reliance Power and Adani, Indian state owned firms are also eyeing the Bangladesh power and energy markets. Earlier this year, Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on broad aspects of cooperation in downstream oil and gas sector opportunities in Bangladesh.
The MoU paves the way for discussion on setting up LPG import terminal at coastal belt of Chittagong district, marketing of LPG and developing related infrastructure in Bangladesh, transportation LPG from Chittagong to Indian city of Tripura and any other form of hydrocarbon sector related cooperation of common interest as may be agreed by IOCL and BPC.
The MoU was signed during Indian oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s visit to Bangladesh from 17th to 19th of April.