‘India keen on Lanka refinery, oil product exports to Bangla’

India is keen to establish refinery and bunkering operations in Sri Lanka, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Saturday and hoped the country will once again be in a position to export petroleum products to Bangladesh with the commissioning of Paradip refinery. He stated this at bilateral meetings with Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Energy Adviser to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh  Hasina, and Sri Lanka Deputy Minister of Petroleum  Resources Development Anoma Gamage here on Saturday.

Both were here to participate in a ceremony at Paradip where Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be dedicating the IndianOil refinery to the nation on Sunday. During his meeting with the Chowdhury, Pradhan conveyed India’s commitment to work with the neighbouring country to further advance bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, an official release said.

On investment proposals of Indian oil companies in Bangladesh, he said their early implementation would create a win-win situation for both countries and sought cooperation from the Bangladesh government. With the commissioning of Paradip refinery, Pradhan said India would be once again in a position to export petroleum products to Bangladesh.

In this regard, he expressed India’s keenness in setting up marketing infrastructure in Bangladesh, the release said. He also sought favourable consideration for transit of LPG to India’s Northeastern region through Bangladesh and noted that Indian PSUs were interested in participating in Bangladesh’s petroleum sector, including exploration, refinery expansion and related PMC works.

Pradhan also appreciated Bangladesh’s support in implementation of Indian projects. During his meeting with the Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Petroleum Resources Development, Pradhan discussed issues such as expansion activities of Lanka IOC, in Sri Lanka, including in the retail business, bunkering and marketing of ATF  and LPG, according to the  release. 

Lanka IOC is a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). Pradhan reiterated  Prime Minister Narendra  Modi’s commitment to work  with Sri Lanka to transform Trincomalee into a regional energy hub.

Expressing India’s interest in establishing refinery and bunkering operations in Sri Lanka, Pradhan exuded confidence that both Sri Lanka and India would work in a spirit of partnership in the hydrocarbon sector. During the meetings, senior officials from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka dealing with oil and gas sector were present.