Numaligarh Refinery Opens First Overseas Office In Bangladesh

India’s Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) opens its first overseas office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, signaling its commitment to international expansion and stronger regional ties. High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, inaugurates NRL’s liaison office in the presence of NRL managing director Bhaskar Jyoti Phukan and other dignitaries.

The Friendship Pipeline Project

• Jointly inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina in March 2023.
• Designed to supply petroleum products to Bangladesh, with a capacity of 1 MMTPA of high-speed diesel.
• Bangladesh portion of the pipeline constructed at an estimated cost exceeding Rs 285 crore, funded by an Indian government grant.

Impact and Achievements:

• Since inauguration, the Friendship Pipeline has facilitated the export of 42 TMT of diesel worth USD 34 million (Rs 282 crore) to Bangladesh.
• Enhances efficiency and cost-effectiveness of cross-border diesel supply, minimizing carbon footprint and ensuring sustainability.
• Establishes a reliable and eco-friendly means of meeting Bangladesh’s high-speed diesel demands.

Enhancing Indo-Bangladeshi Energy Relations

• NRL’s opening of a office in Dhaka and the successful operation of the Friendship Pipeline signify strengthened Indo-Bangladeshi ties, particularly in the energy sector.
• NRL’s international expansion reaffirms its commitment to cooperation, economic growth, and energy security in the region.
• Marks a new chapter in bilateral relations characterized by mutual trust, collaboration, and shared prosperity.