India says prioritising domestic needs, examining Bangladesh request for diesel supply

India is examining the request from Bangladesh for diesel supplies as New Delhi prioritises domestic oil consumption needs, ‌⁠foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday

The country will factor in India's ⁠diesel availability ‌and refining capacity before ⁠supplying the fuel to Bangladesh, Jaiswal said. Bangladesh is largely dependent on energy imports for its domestic needs.

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India is a major exporter of refined petroleum products, especially to the neighbourhood, Jaiswal said, adding that New Delhi has received a request from the government of Bangladesh for the supply of diesel, which is being examined

India has been exporting refined petroleum products to Bangladesh since 2007 from the Numaligarh refinery through waterways, rail and the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline. Jaiswal said, "While diesel exports have largely continued since 2017 under a sale-purchase agreement with the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, our refining capacity, domestic requirements and diesel availability will be considered before taking a decision."

India has received similar requests from several other countries, including Sri Lanka and Maldives, and the government is examining the same, taking into account its own energy requirements and availability.

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Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian government stated that the diesel supply to Bangladesh is part of regular ongoing energy trade between the two nations.

As per an ET report, Chairman of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), Muhammad Rezanur Rahman, had claimed that at least 5,000 tonnes of diesel would reach Bangladesh on Tuesday as part of the supply.

"We have started receiving diesel from Monday afternoon at Parbatipur depot in (northwestern) Dinajpur from Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) in Assam through the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline," a Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) spokesman said, as reported by PTI.

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The official said it could take nearly 45 hours to pump the 5,000 tonnes of diesel, meaning the process might continue until Wednesday evening.

Prior to the supply confirmation from the neighbour ing country, Indian High Commissioner Pranay Kumar Verma said New Delhi was actively considering Bangladesh's request for additional diesel as Dhaka sought to enhance its fuel reserves amid ongoing energy supply concerns.