BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday held bilateral meetings with Energy Adviser to Prime Minister of Bangladesh Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and Deputy Minister of Petroleum Resources Development of Sri Lanka Anoma Gamage.
Both the dignitaries are here on the invitation of Pradhan to participate the inaugural ceremony of Indian Oil Corporation’s refinery project at Paradip. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the oil refinery to the nation on Sunday.
During his meeting with Chowdhury, Pradhan conveyed India’s commitment to work with Bangladesh to further bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.
Pradhan informed about the investment proposals of Indian oil marketing companies in Bangladesh and said their early implementation will create a win-win situation for both countries. He sought active cooperation from Bangladesh Government.
With the commissioning of the Paradip refinery, Pradhan said India will be in a position to export petroleum products to Bangladesh. He expressed India’s keenness to set up marketing infrastructure in Bangladesh.
Seeking Bangladesh cooperation for transit of LPG to India’s North Eastern region through Bangladesh, Pradhan said India’s public sector undertakings are interested in participating in petroleum sector of Bangladesh including in exploration, refinery expansion and related project management consultancy (PMC) works.
Pradhan during his meeting with Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Petroleum Resources Development discussed issues such as expansion of Lanka IOC, a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation, including retail business, bunkering and marketing of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and LPG.
Reiterating the Prime Minister’s commitment to make Trincomalee a regional energy hub, Pradhan expressed confidence that both Sri Lanka and India will work in a spirit of partnership in the hydrocarbon sector.