Numaligarh Refinery Limited Expands Footprint in Bangladesh with New Liaison Office Inauguration

March 11, 2024 6:44 pm

In a significant stride towards strengthening bilateral ties in the energy sector, Pranay Verma, the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, inaugurated the liaison office of Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Dhaka today. The move reflects the deepening collaboration between India and Bangladesh, particularly in the realm of energy cooperation.

Bhaskar Jyoti Phukan, the managing director of NRL, and Tipu Sultan, the managing director of Meghna Petroleum Limited, joined Verma at the inauguration ceremony. NRL, a key supplier of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh through a cross-border pipeline, has been instrumental in facilitating energy trade between the two nations.

During the event, High Commissioner Pranay Verma emphasized the enhanced opportunities for collaboration on energy and power projects with the establishment of the liaison office. He highlighted the substantial progress in India-Bangladesh relations over the past decade, with a particular emphasis on the growth of cooperation in the power and energy sector.

One of the landmark achievements in this collaboration is the Friendship Pipeline Project, inaugurated virtually by the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh on March 18 last year. The pipeline, a pioneering cross-border initiative, has the capacity to transport one million metric tonnes per annum of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh.

To date, the Friendship Pipeline has successfully delivered 42 thousand metric tonnes of diesel, valued at USD 34 million (INR 282 crore), showcasing the tangible outcomes of the bilateral energy partnership. The liaison office is poised to play a pivotal role in furthering cooperation and facilitating streamlined communication between NRL and its Bangladeshi counterparts.

As the energy landscape continues to evolve, the inauguration of NRL’s liaison office serves as a testament to the commitment of both nations to fostering sustainable and mutually beneficial collaborations in the crucial realm of power and energy.