The Indian additional secretary of the Petroleum Ministry, Talmij Ahmed, and the Bangladeshi energy advisor of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Mahmudur Rahman, are to meet during August 5-6 to progress plans for the three-nation pipeline project.
Indian foreign minister Natwar Singh is to hold separate meetings in Dhaka at the same time.
Bangladesh, India and Myanmar last February signed a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) for construction of the pipeline to carry Myanmar gas to India over the Bangladeshi territory.
But unsolved problems – such as Bangladesh’s huge trade imbalance with India and its bilateral trade with Bhutan and Nepal – have so far dogged the construction of any gas pipeline from Myanmar to India. There are also disputes about other matters, including transportation fees.
Bangladesh could earn US$125 million annually for a 950km pipeline passing through its territory. But if India prefers to bypass Bangladesh, then the length of the pipeline will increase to 1400km.
India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), GAIL India and Korea’s Daewoo Company are involved in the Myanmar fields, which are estimated to hold 5-6 tcf of gas.
