India is maintaining its diesel supply to Bangladesh through a pipeline from the Numaligarh refinery in Assam, as part of a longstanding agreement between the two countries. The India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, operational since 2017, has been delivering diesel commercially to Bangladesh from the Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. This supply forms a regular part of the energy trade between India and Bangladesh.
In response to the ongoing supply, a Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation spokesman mentioned that diesel shipments from the Numaligarh Refinery Limited in Assam to the Parbatipur depot in Dinajpur have commenced. The process of pumping 5,000 tonnes of diesel is expected to take around 45 hours and is scheduled to continue until Wednesday evening.
Bangladesh had previously announced that India would be sending 5,000 tonnes of diesel as part of an annual agreement to provide a total of 180,000 tonnes. Meanwhile, India has informed its Parliament that it currently possesses a storage capacity for crude oil and petroleum products equivalent to 74 days of national consumption, which can serve as a safeguard during potential disruptions such as geopolitical conflicts.
The Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suresh Gopi, highlighted the government’s efforts to mitigate supply risks and ensure an uninterrupted energy chain amid geopolitical uncertainties. These measures include diversifying crude oil sources, avoiding conflict areas, and enhancing diplomatic ties with major oil-producing nations and international energy organizations like the IEA, OPEC, and IEF.
