NRL’s business with Bangladesh as usual

Guwahati: Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Assam, which exports gas oil (high speed diesel) to Bangladesh, said business with the neighbouring country is continuing as usual and there is no hindrance to the supply chain amid the unrest there.
NRL exports gas oil to Bangladesh through the 130-km long India Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFPL) from its terminal in Siliguri to the terminal of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) in Parbatipur.
Chairman NRL and CMD Oil India Limited (OIL) Ranjit Rath, when asked if the unrest in Bangladesh has affected the company’s business, said, “Absolutely not. In fact, the pipeline which is built at the behest of the Government of India, ministry of external affairs and the excellent collaboration we have with our neighbour Bangladesh, the pipeline has come handy and as we speak, we are pushing product in that pipeline. So, there is no difference, no disturbance.”
He added, “We are also creating opportunities to target the northern part of Bangladesh not only through pipeline, which is the Indo-Bangladesh friendship pipeline, we have got collaborations with the Indian Waterways Authority Assam to push petroleum products through barges. Simultaneously, we are also exploring the opportunity to see if we can put a terminal in Silchar so that we can target the northeastern part of Bangladesh.”
He added, “Export potential to Bangladesh will remain our mainstay post refinery expansion from 3 to 9 MMTPA (million metric tonnes per annum).”
He said, “If you look at India as a refining hub, we will have a market preposition. We are not only looking at the Look East policy, but we are also looking at mainland India. While refinery expansion is underway, we are also having collaborative arrangements with oil marketing companies (OMC). We will not only cater to the northeast India market but entire India through our collaborative efforts with OMCs. “
Rath said some discussion is on with Myanmar. “And as we crystalize more, we will be able to share. We are not looking at retail outlets in Myanmar. “