An additional 5,000 tonnes of diesel have started flowing from India to Bangladesh through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, strengthening Dhaka’s fuel security amidst uncertainties in West Asia affecting energy imports. The diesel is being transported from Numaligarh in Assam to the Parbatipur Padma Oil Depot in Dinajpur, as reported by the Bangla Tribune. Bangladesh has taken urgent steps to maintain oil reserves and ensure a continuous supply, with a total of 30,000 metric tonnes of diesel expected to be delivered from India through the pipeline in April.
The Friendship Pipeline, inaugurated in 2023, has become a crucial energy lifeline for Bangladesh, offering faster, cost-effective, and reliable fuel transportation compared to traditional shipping methods. This infrastructure plays a vital role in energy cooperation between Dhaka and New Delhi, meeting the growing domestic demand for fuel and stabilizing supply chains. The pipeline has a capacity to transport 1 million metric tonnes per year of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh, enhancing bilateral energy ties.
The initiative marks the second cross-border energy pipeline between India and its neighbors, with Numaligarh Refinery Limited supplying petroleum products to Bangladesh since 2015. The pipeline’s operationalization aims to boost ongoing energy collaboration between the two countries, providing impetus to Bangladesh’s development, particularly in the agriculture sector. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has requested a USD 2 billion fund from development partners to address immediate energy needs and ensure economic stability amid the global energy crisis, as reported by the Daily Star.
