India-Bangladesh ‘friendship’ pipeline to ensure energy security: Nasrul Hamid

The under-construction India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline at Parbatipur in Dinajpur will ensure power and energy security in the northern region, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said.

After visiting the project area, the junior minister said this while talking to reporters on Friday afternoon.

The Fellowship Receipt Terminal will be the first modern, automatic and computerised system in the country of its kind.

UNB adds: If something is done in the pipeline on the way or otherwise, the place of automaticity can be identified immediately, he said.

Two and a half to three lakh tonnes of diesel will be imported annually from Numanigarh Refinery Station in India to Parbatipur Resort Terminal in Dinajpur through a 131.57-km underground pipeline.

In addition to reducing the cost, it has created a big ring for fuel security. At least 40,000 litres of fuel have been stored at the terminal and depot for two months.

The price of diesel per barrel imported in different ways is $11.50. Because of imports through the pipeline, the price will come down to only $ 6.

With the import of diesel in Parbatipur, the supply of fuel will be ensured for the cultivation of irrigation pumps in the agriculturally dependent northern region and a power plant in Saidpur for the production of electricity.

At the end of the 15-year contract, it will either be renewed or run by the government itself.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are scheduled to inaugurate the supply of fuel to the pipeline through video conferencing on March 18.

On September 18, 2018, the two leaders inaugurated the pipeline construction work. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in this regard on April 9 in 2018.