New Delhi, March 19 – India stated on Thursday that it continues to assist Bangladesh and other neighboring countries in meeting their energy supply needs, while also balancing domestic requirements, refining capacity, and diesel availability.
Speaking at the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that New Delhi has received energy requests from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and other neighboring countries.
He mentioned that India has been supplying diesel to Bangladesh since 2007 through various modes of transportation and continues to assist the South Asian nation, along with other neighboring countries.
"Regarding energy, we have received requests from several of our neighboring countries, and I had mentioned this earlier. We have received requests from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and some other neighboring countries. As I had indicated earlier, India has been supplying diesel to Bangladesh since 2007 through various modes of transportation. We are continuing to assist Bangladesh and our other neighbors currently. This is being done while taking into account our own requirements, refining capacity, and diesel availability," said Jaiswal.
He also mentioned that, due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, energy shipping routes have been impacted, and the supply of LPG remains a matter of concern.
"Therefore, we are prioritizing domestic consumption and domestic consumers first. Their needs will be taken care of, and then we will decide how to manage LPG supply to commercial establishments. However, this remains a matter of concern due to the shortage of supply."
Last week, highlighting India's role as a major exporter of refined petroleum products, particularly to neighboring countries, the MEA had said that the Indian government had received a request from Bangladesh for diesel supply, which was under review.
"India is a major exporter of refined petroleum products, especially to our neighborhood. We have received a request from the government of Bangladesh for the supply of diesel, which is being examined. Given our people-centric and development-oriented approach to relations with Bangladesh, we have been supplying diesel from the Numaligarh refinery since 2007 through various modes, which include waterways, rail, and later through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline," the MEA had stated.
"A sale purchase agreement was signed in October 2017 between Numaligarh Refinery and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation for the supply of high-speed diesel on mutually agreed terms. It bears mention that while diesel exports to Bangladesh have largely continued since 2017, India's refining capacity, our own requirements, and diesel availability will be factored in while taking decisions," Jaiswal had mentioned last week.
The government has repeatedly said that it has received similar requests from several other countries which are being examined considering India's domestic energy requirements and availability.