PM Modi, Bangladesh PM jointly inaugurate India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFP) through a virtual ceremony on Saturday.

The foundation stone for the pipeline's construction was laid by both leaders in September 2018.

“In the last few years, under the able leadership of PM Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has made remarkable progress. Every Indian is proud of that and we are delighted that we've been able to contribute to this development journey of Bangladesh,” PM Modi said during the ceremony.

The Indian Prime Minister expressed confidence that this pipeline would further accelerate the development of Bangladesh, and would be an excellent example of increasing connectivity between the two countries.

He added that supply of oil through the new pipeline would bring down costs and reduce the carbon footprint.

The 131.5 km-long pipeline will carry High Speed Diesel from the marketing terminal of the Assam-based public sector Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Siliguri, West Bengal, India. The oil will be transported to the Parbatipur depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) in Dinajpur district, Bangladesh.

About 126.5 kms of this pipeline is in Bangladesh and 5 kms is in India. The cost of the Bangladesh portion of the pipeline - approximately INR 285 crore - has been borne by the Government of India under grant assistance.

Since India and Bangladesh share a strong partnership in the power and energy sector, the IBFP is a significant step towards strengthening this cooperation.

The pipeline has the capacity to transport 1 million metric tons per annum (MMTPA) of high-speed diesel (HSD) to Bangladesh, and its operationalization is expected to further enhance connectivity and people-to-people linkages between the two countries.

Bangladesh is India's major commercial partner in the region as well as its top development partner. In addition to enhancing current energy cooperation between the two nations, the Friendship Pipeline's completion will stimulate greater development in Bangladesh, notably in the agricultural industry.