Lok Sabha Question No. 2486 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-09
Subject: Investment in Oil and Gas in Bangladesh/Saudi Arabia
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, Shrirang Appa Barne, K. C. VENUGOPAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2486 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH  MAY, 2016

## INVESTMENT IN OIL AND GAS IN BANGLADESH/SAUDI ARABIA

2486. SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN:

SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL:

## पैट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्री

Will the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas be pleased to state:

- a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  invest  in  oil,  gas,  petrochemicals, exploration and production etc. in Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia and has also signed an agreement / Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the hydrocarbon sector with both these countries;
- b) if  so, the details thereof along with the likely benefits of the said move to the country and the time by which the work on these agreements are likely to be started;
- c) whether  the  upstream  companies  have  signed  an  agreement  to  explore  an already  discovered  offshore  gas  field  near  Kutubdia  beyond  their  allocated  blocks and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Bangladesh Government in this regard; and
- d) whether  Indian  Oil  Corporation  Limited  has  also  signed  an  agreement  with Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation to set up an LPG import terminal at Chittagong and lay a pipeline from there to Tripura and if so, the details thereof and the manner in which both the countries are likely to benefited therefrom?

## ANSWER

पैट्रोलियम और प्राक ृ लिक गैस मंत्रािय में राज्य मंत्री ( स्विंत्र प्रभार ) ( श्री धमेन्द्र प्रधान ) MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)  IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) and (b): During the visit of Hon'ble Minister of State (I/C) Petroleum and Natural Gas to Saudi Arabia (from 13-14 April 2016) and Bangladesh (from 18-19 April 2016) various  issues  relating  to  bilateral  cooperation  in  the  hydrocarbon  sector  were discussed with these countries.

India  invited  Saudi  Arabia  to  invest  in  Indian  downstream  and  upstream sectors,  including  in  areas  of  oil,  gas,  petrochemicals,  exploration  and  production, etc. Saudi Arabia also provided shared information on the investment opportunities for Indian companies in their country.

With Bangladesh, all bilateral issues pertaining to cooperation in the hydrocarbon  sector  were discussed. Also, the ongoing  collaboration  between companies from both sides in the hydrocarbon sector ranging from trade in petroleum products, exploration work and consultancy services. The details of Indian hydrocarbon infrastructure  project  proposals  in  Bangladesh,  including  setting  up  of LPG import terminal at Chittagong by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) and  'IndoBangla Friendship Pipeline' were discussed.

An  MoU  between  IOCL  and  Bangladesh  Petroleum  Corporation  (BPC)  on broad  aspects  of  cooperation  in  downstream  oil  and  gas  sector  opportunities  in Bangladesh was signed on 18 th April 2016.

(c) None of the Indian Public Sector Enterprises under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas have signed an agreement to explore an already discovered offshore gas field near Kutubdia.

(d) The  above  mentioned  MoU  between  IOCL  and  BPC  paves  the  way  for discussion  on  setting  up  LPG  import  terminal  at  coastal  belt  of  Chittagong  district, marketing of LPG and developing related infrastructure in Bangladesh, transportation LPG from Chittagong to Tripura and any other form of Hydrocarbon sector related cooperation of common interest as may be agreed by IOCL and BPC.

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