Prime Minister Narendra Modi and
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina have inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship
Pipeline (IBFPL) via video conference on March 18th.
This will be the first
cross-border energy pipeline between the two countries.The pipeline has been
built at an estimated cost of Rs 377 crore. Bangladesh's section of the
pipeline cost Rs 285 crore.
The entire pipeline is 131.5-km
long and will be used to supply diesel from India to Bangladesh. The supply
will start on an experimental basis in June this year. The construction of the
project started in 2018 with the help of India's grant funding.
The pipeline will transport One
million metric ton of high-speed diesel every year to seven districts of North
Bangladesh. The pipeline runs from the Siliguri-based marketing terminal of the
Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) to the Parbatipur depot of Bangladesh
Petroleum Corporation (BPC).
The fuel transport deal will be effective for 15 years with an
option for further extension.
The operation of India- Bangladesh
Friendship Pipeline will put in place a sustainable, reliable, cost-effective
and environment friendly mode of transporting HSD (High-speed diesel) from
India to Bangladesh and will further enhance cooperation in energy security
between the two countries,” a statement from PM Modi's office said. |