India Balances Energy Aid to Neighbors with Domestic Needs Amid Global Crisis

Addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that New Delhi has received energy requests from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and other neighbouring countries.

He mentioned that India has been supplying diesel to Bangladesh since 2007 through various modes of transportation and continues to assist the South Asian nation, along with other neighbouring countries.

"About energy, we have received requests from several of our neighbouring countries, and I had spoken about this earlier as well. We have received requests from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and some other neighbouring countries. As I had indicated earlier, India has been supplying diesel to Bangladesh since 2007 through various modes of transportation. We are continuing to assist Bangladesh and our other neighbours even currently. This is being done while factoring in our own requirements, refining capacity, and diesel availability," said Jaiswal.

With the energy shipping routes having been impacted due to the ongoing West Asia conflict, he mentioned that the supply of LPG remains a matter of concern.

"Therefore, we are prioritising domestic consumption and domestic consumers first. Their needs will be taken care of, and then we will decide how to manage LPG supply to commercial establishments. However, this remains a matter of concern due to the shortage of supply."

Last week, highlighting India's role as a major exporter of refined petroleum products, particularly to neighbouring countries, the MEA had said that the Indian government had received a request from Bangladesh for diesel supply, which was under review.

"India is a major exporter of refined petroleum products, especially to our neighbourhood. We have received a request from the government of Bangladesh for the supply of diesel, which is being examined. Given our people-centric and development-orientated approach to relations with Bangladesh, we have been supplying diesel from the Numaligarh refinery since 2007 through various modes, which include waterways, rail and later through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline," the MEA had stated.

"A sale purchase agreement was signed in October 2017 between Numaligarh Refinery and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation for the supply of high-speed diesel on mutually agreed terms. It bears mention that while diesel exports to Bangladesh have largely continued since 2017, India's refining capacity, our own requirements and diesel availability will be factored in while taking decisions," Jaiswal had mentioned last week.

The government has repeatedly said that it has received similar requests from several other countries which are being examined considering India's domestic energy requirements and availability.

- IANS